first; earliest; firstly
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesadverb
first; earliest; before anyone/anything else
neutralOften used to describe the temporal order of an action or event.
Tā他
shǒu首
xiān先
dào到
dá达
le了
huì会
yì议
dì地
diǎn点
。
He arrived at the meeting place first.
Zhè这
ge个
wèn问
tí题
shì是
wǒ我
men们
shǒu首
xiān先
xū需
yào要
jiě解
jué决
de的
。
This is the problem we need to solve first.
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Tā她
shǒu首
xiān先
xiǎng想
dào到
le了
zhè这
ge个
hǎo好
zhǔ主
yì意
。
She was the first to think of this good idea.
conjunction
firstly; in the first place (used to list items)
neutralUsed at the beginning of a list of points, reasons, or steps. Often paired with 其次 (qícì, secondly), 然后 (ránhòu, then), or 最后 (zuìhòu, finally).
Shǒu首
xiān先
，
wǒ我
men们
yào要
míng明
què确
mù目
biāo标
；
qí其
cì次
，
yào要
zhì制
dìng定
jì计
huà划
。
First, we need to clarify our goal; second, we need to make a plan.
Tā他
fā发
yán言
shí时
shǒu首
xiān先
gǎn感
xiè谢
le了
zhǔ主
bàn办
fāng方
，
rán然
hòu后
jiè介
shào绍
le了
zì自
jǐ己
de的
gōng公
sī司
。
During his speech, he first thanked the organizers and then introduced his company.
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Zuò做
zhè这
dào道
cài菜
，
shǒu首
xiān先
yào要
bǎ把
ròu肉
qiē切
hǎo好
。
To make this dish, first you need to cut the meat.