first battle; debut match
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to fight the first battle; to engage in the first match or competition
Literally refers to the initial military engagement; metaphorically extended to any first competitive encounter. Often functions as a noun phrase meaning 'the first battle'.
Shǒu首
zhàn战
gào告
jié捷
。
They won their first battle.
Zhōng中
guó国
duì队
jiāng将
zài在
míng明
tiān天
shǒu首
zhàn战
dōng东
dào道
zhǔ主
。
The Chinese team will face the host country in their first match tomorrow.
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Zài在
zhè这
jiè届
ào奥
yùn运
huì会
shàng上
，
tā他
shǒu首
zhàn战
jiù就
dǎ打
pò破
le了
shì世
jiè界
jì纪
lù录
。
At this Olympic Games, he broke the world record in his very first appearance.
Suī虽
rán然
shǒu首
zhàn战
shī失
lì利
，
dàn但
duì队
yuán员
men们
bìng并
méi没
yǒu有
qì气
něi馁
。
Although they lost the first match, the team members were not discouraged.