xiān
在（先）先
common
adverb
Meaning of 在先
在先 means before; previously; formerly; in the past; in advance; beforehand; prior to. Pronounced xiān.
- before; previously; formerly; in the past
- in advance; beforehand; prior to
- to precede; to come before; to be prior (in time or order)
Definitions & Examples
Xiān先
wǒ我
nián年
jì纪
xiǎo小
，
shén什
me么
shì事
yě也
bù不
míng明
bai白
。
When I was young, I didn't understand anything.
Xiān先
zhè这
lǐ里
shì是
yī一
piàn片
huāng荒
dì地
，
xiàn现
zài在
yǐ已
jīng经
gài盖
qǐ起
le了
gāo高
lóu楼
。
This place used to be wasteland, but now high-rise buildings have been constructed.
Xiān先
tā他
zhù住
zài在
xiāng乡
xià下
，
hòu后
lái来
bān搬
dào到
le了
chéng城
lǐ里
。
He used to live in the countryside, and later moved to the city.