先 xiān

first, former, previous

HSK 1 #188

DEFINITIONS

  • first, former, previous
  • early
  • prior
  • former
  • in advance
  • first

STROKES

WORDS

先斩后奏 xiān zhǎn hòu zòu first decapitate then present your trophy (idiom); act first, report later
先锋派 xiān fēng pài avant-garde
开路先锋 kāi lù xiān fēng pioneer; trailbreaker
先期 xiān qī in advance; beforehand; premature; front-end
先声夺人 xiān shēng duó rén to gain the upper hand by a show of strength
身先士卒 shēn xiān shì zú to fight at the head of one's troops; (fig.) to take the lead
占先 zhàn xiān to take precedence
先天不足 xiān tiān bù zú congenital deficiency; inherent weakness
先礼后兵 xiān lǐ hòu bīng peaceful measures before using force (idiom); diplomacy before violence; jaw-jaw is better than war-war
先行者 xiān xíng zhě forerunner
争先 zhēng xiān to compete to be first; to contest first place
先导 xiān dǎo guide; forerunner; pioneer
先烈 xiān liè martyr
先决 xiān jué prerequisite; precondition
敢为人先 gǎn wéi rén xiān to dare to be first; to pioneer (idiom)
未老先衰 wèi lǎo xiān shuāi to age prematurely
近水楼台先得月 jìn shuǐ lóu tái xiān dé yuè the pavilion closest to the water enjoys moonlight first (idiom); to benefit from intimacy with an influential person
一馬當先 yī mǎ dāng xiān to take the lead
不首先使用 bù shǒu xiān shǐ yòng no first use (policy for nuclear weapons); NFU
事先通知 shì xiān tōng zhī preliminary notification; to announce in advance
佔先 zhàn xiān to take precedence
尽先 jǐn xiān in the first instance; as a first priority
儘先 jǐn xiān in the first instance; as a first priority
優先 yōu xiān to have priority; to take precedence
优先承购权 yōu xiān chéng gòu quán prior purchase right; right of first refusal (ROFR); preemptive right to purchase
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