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  5. 先

先 (xiān): First — Stroke Order & Writing Guide

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Level 3
HSK 3.0:Recognition 1
HSK 2.0Level 3
HSK 3.0Vocab 3Recognition 1
1.

Animated Stroke Order 先

Watch the stroke order, then trace it yourself.

How to write 先 — animated stroke order

1,754 learners practiced this

2.

Stroke Order Diagrams 先

先 stroke order diagram
3.

Character Breakdown

Top-Bottom
先
止zhǐ · stop
儿ér · child
先=
4.

Printable Writing Worksheet: 先

先 handwriting practice worksheet preview
Download full HSK 3.0 Level 3 PDF pack
5.

How to Use 先

Sequence and advance

In words like 首先, 事先, 先前, and 原先, 先 (xiān) marks order or something done beforehand.

首先 • shǒu xiān • first • HSK 4
HSK 4
6.

HSK Vocabulary: 先

预先 • yù xiān • in advance; beforehand
HSK 6
yù预
xiān
7.

Example Sentences

tā他
lǜ率
xiān先
wán完
chéng成
le了
rèn

Information

Pinyinxiān
Meaningfirst
Strokes6
Radical儿
Traditional先
StructureTop-Bottom
Frequency#40
Zhuyinㄒㄧㄢ
UnicodeU+5148
CangjieHGHU
止zhǐ · stop
+儿ér · child
shǒu首
xiān先

first

事先 • shì xiān • in advance; beforehand • HSK 5
HSK 5
shì事
xiān先

in advance; beforehand

先前 • xiān qián • before; previously • HSK 6
HSK 6
xiān先
qián前

before; previously

原先 • yuán xiān • former; original • HSK 6
HSK 6
yuán原
xiān先

former; original

Priority and leadership

In words like 优先, 领先, 率先, and 先后, 先 (xiān) indicates being first or ahead of others.

优先 • yōu xiān • take precedence; prior • HSK 6
HSK 6
yōu优
xiān先

take precedence; prior

领先 • lǐng xiān • (be in the) lead • HSK 6
HSK 6
lǐng领
xiān先

(be in the) lead

率先 • shuài xiān • first; ahead of others • HSK 3.0 · L6
HSK 3.0 · L6
shuài率
xiān先

first; ahead of others

先后 • xiān hòu • early or late • HSK 3.0 · L5
HSK 3.0 · L5
xiān先
hòu后

early or late

Elder and pioneer

In words like 先生, 祖先, 先锋, and 先进, 先 (xiān) refers to an elder, ancestor, or someone advanced.

先生 • xiān sheng • Mr; Sir • HSK 1
HSK 1
xiān先
sheng生

Mr; Sir

祖先 • zǔ xiān • ancestors; forefathers • HSK 6
HSK 6
zǔ祖
xiān先

ancestors; forefathers

先锋 • xiān fēng • pioneer • HSK 3.0 · L7-9
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
xiān先
fēng锋

pioneer

先进 • xiān jìn • advanced • HSK 6
HSK 6
xiān先
jìn进

advanced

先

in advance; beforehand

争先恐后 • zhēng xiān kǒng hòu • falling over each other; in a mad rush to be first
HSK 6
zhēng争
xiān先
kǒng恐
hòu后

falling over each other; in a mad rush to be first

先例 • xiān lì • Precedent
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
xiān先
lì例

Precedent

先天 • xiān tiān • Innate
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
xiān先
tiān天

Innate

任
wu务
。

He took the lead in completing the task

qǐng请
nǐ你
men们
xiān先
zuò坐
xià下
，
lǎo老
shī师
mǎ马
shàng上
jiù就
lái来
。

Please sit down first, the teacher will be here soon.

zhè这
ge个
jì技
shù术
fēi非
cháng常
xiān先
jìn进
。

This technology is very advanced.

zhè这
wèi位
xiān先
sheng生
shì是
wǒ我
de的
lǎo老
shī师
。

This gentleman is my teacher.

zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
qiǎng抢
xiān先
fā发
bù布
le了
xīn新
chǎn产
pǐn品
。

This company beat others to launch the new product.

Related Characters

Explore characters by relationship

HSK Level 3

Characters from the same exam level.

  • 东dōngeast
  • 冬dōngwinter
  • 短duǎnshort
  • 段duànsection; paragraph; [measure word for stories, pieces of music, recordings etc.]
  • 饿èhungry
  • 发fāto send (an email)
View all HSK 3 characters →

Same Sound

Characters pronounced "xian".

  • 舷xiánthe sides of a boat, bulwarks; a gunwale
  • 娴xiánelegant, refined; skillful
  • 涎xiánsaliva
  • 腺xiàngland
  • 锨xiānshovel
  • 铣xiǎnmill
View all "xian" characters →

Same Radical

Characters with radical "儿".

  • 尧yáoa legendary ancient emperor-sage
  • 儿érchild, son
  • 党dǎng(political) party
  • 兄xiōngelder brother
  • 兢jīngcautious, careful, vigilant
  • 兆zhàoomen, sign, portent
View all "儿" radical characters →