先例 (xiān lì): Meaning, Examples & Usage
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先例
先例 (xiān lì): Precedent (Noun) — Meaning & Stroke Order
HSK 3.0
Level 7-9
1.
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2.
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3.
Character Breakdown
先 • xiān • first • HSK 3.0 · L3
HSK 3.0 · L3
xiān
先
first
例 • lì • example; precedent; rule; regulation
lì
例
example; precedent; rule; regulation
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Words Sharing Characters
More common words that include characters from 先例.
Words with
先
先生
xiān sheng
Mr; Sir
首先
shǒu xiān
first
事先
shì xiān
in advance; beforehand
先后
xiān hòu
early or late
优先
yōu xiān
take precedence; prior
先前
xiān qián
before; previously
先进
xiān jìn
advanced
原先
yuán xiān
former; original
Words with
例
举例
jǔ lì
to give an example
例如
lì rú
for example
例子
lì zi
case
比例
bǐ lì
scale; proportion; ratio
例外
lì wài
exception
惯例
guàn lì
convention; usual practice; custom
案例
àn lì
case; example of
破例
pò lì
break a rule; make an exception
4.
How to Use 先例 in Sentences
Measure Word + Noun
with
个
yí
一
gè
个
xiān
先
lì
例
neutral
a precedent
Verb + Object
méi
没
yǒu
有
xiān
先
lì
例
neutral
Adjective + Noun
with
历史
lì
历
shǐ
史
xiān
先
lì
例
5.
Example Sentences with 先例
zhè
这
shì
是
xiān
先
lì
例
,
wǒ
我
men
have no precedent
zūn
遵
xún
循
xiān
先
lì
例
formal
Written
follow precedent
kāi
开
chuàng
创
xiān
先
lì
例
formal
set a precedent
formal
historical precedent
们
yào
要
zūn
遵
shǒu
守
。
This is a precedent, and we must follow it.
zhè
这
ge
个
chuàng
创
xīn
新
xiàng
项
mù
目
méi
没
yǒu
有
xiān
先
lì
例
,
wǒ
我
men
们
bì
必
xū
须
jǐn
谨
shèn
慎
tàn
探
suǒ
索
。
This innovative project has no precedent, so we must proceed with caution.
nán
难
dào
道
lì
历
shǐ
史
shàng
上
jiù
就
méi
没
yǒu
有
lèi
类
shì
似
de
的
xiān
先
lì
例
kě
可
gòng
供
wǒ
我
men
们
jiè
借
jiàn
鉴
ma
吗
?
Is there really no similar precedent in history for us to learn from?
gōng
公
sī
司
jué
决
dìng
定
shè
设
lì
立
xīn
新
guī
规
dìng
定
,
yīn
因
wèi
为
méi
没
yǒu
有
xiān
先
lì
例
kě
可
xún
循
。
The company decided to establish new rules because there is no precedent to follow.
wǒ
我
men
们
jué
绝
bù
不
néng
能
kāi
开
zhè
这
ge
个
xiān
先
lì
例
,
fǒu
否
zé
则
guǎn
管
lǐ
理
huì
会
xiàn
陷
rù
入
hùn
混
luàn
乱
。
We absolutely must not set this precedent, or management will fall into chaos.