先 xiān▶ primero

Stroke order

先 is written in 6 strokes.

• 先

Senses

1. beforehand; first; earlier
2. at first; originally
3. for the time being; for now
4. (prefix) my late (in referring to deceased relatives older than oneself)

Example sentences

• 你先走，我等一下。Nǐ xiān zǒu, wǒ děng yíxià.You go first, I will wait a moment.
• 我们先吃饭吧。Wǒmen xiān chīfàn ba.Let's eat first.

Related words

• 首先Primero
• 事先Previo; Anterior
• 先生señor
• 优先primero
• 先前previamente
• 先进avanzado

先 is pronounced xiān and means “primero”. HSK 3 places it in the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, the standardised measure of Chinese proficiency. There is a real difference between having seen 先 and being able to use it, and cramming a list flatters the first while doing little for the second. LexiTrail shows you the word again at the point your recall of it is about to lapse.