before, earlier, first
Animated Stroke Order 先
Stroke Order Diagrams 先
Free Printable Handwriting Practice with Stroke Order: 先
Download and print worksheets to practice writing 先
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Preview of Portrait worksheet
HSK Vocabulary: 先
HSK words that contain this character.
Example Sentences
Real-world example sentences demonstrating how 先 is used in context
1
zhè这
ge个
jì技
shù术
fēi非
cháng常
xiān先
jìn进
。
This technology is very advanced.
2
zhè这
wèi位
xiān先
shēng生
shì是
wǒ我
de的
lǎo老
shī师
。
This gentleman is my teacher.
3
shǒu首
xiān先
，
wǒ我
men们
xū需
yào要
zhì制
dìng定
jì计
huà划
。
First of all, we need to make a plan.
4
wáng王
xiān先
shēng生
měi每
tiān天
zuò坐
dì地
tiě铁
qù去
shàng上
bān班
。
Mr. Wang takes the subway to work every day.
5
zhāng张
xiān先
shēng生
bù不
jǐn仅
shì是
yī一
wèi位
chéng成
gōng功
de的
shāng商
rén人
，
hái还
jīng经
cháng常
cān参
yù与
cí慈
shàn善
huó活
dòng动
。
Mr. Zhang is not only a successful businessman but also frequently participates in charitable activities.
6
shǒu首
xiān先
，
wǒ我
chī吃
zǎo早
fàn饭
。
First, I eat breakfast.
7
shǒu首
xiān先
，
wǒ我
men们
xū需
yào要
zhǔn准
bèi备
cái材
liào料
。
First, we need to prepare the materials.
8
shǒu首
xiān先
，
wǒ我
men们
yào要
míng明
què确
mù目
biāo标
，
rán然
hòu后
zhì制
dìng定
jì计
huà划
。
First, we need to clarify our goals, and then make a plan.
9
wǒ我
men们
shì事
xiān先
shuō说
hǎo好
le了
shí时
jiān间
。
We agreed on the time in advance.
10
tā他
shì事
xiān先
zhǔn准
bèi备
le了
cái材
liào料
，
suǒ所
yǐ以
huì会
yì议
hěn很
shùn顺
lì利
。
He prepared the materials in advance, so the meeting went smoothly.
Information
Traditional先
Radical儿
Strokes6
StructureTop-Bottom
Frequency#40
Zhuyinㄒㄧㄢ
Components—
UnicodeU+5148
CangjieHGHU
☯️
Cultural note
Traditional Chinese culture often connects characters and names with the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) and Yin–Yang, a system also used to describe personality tendencies.
Learn how the Five Elements describe personality