先 xiān — before; first; in advance

先
xiān

Level 1 · Common HSK 1 #446

xiān xian1

Basic definition

adverb
  1. before; first; in advance e.g 先前首先优先
  2. ahead of time; beforehand e.g 抢先先发制人先兆
noun
  1. ancestor; forefather e.g 祖先先人先烈
  2. deceased (elder); late e.g 先父先哲先母

Detailed explanation

verb
  1. (会意。据甲骨文，上面是“止”(脚)，下面是“人”。意思是脚已走在人的前面。本义:前进，走在前面)
  2. advance e.g 身先士卒争先恐后争先
  3. attach importance to e.g 先本
  4. initiate;begin e.g 先志 · 先事
noun
  1. first e.g 先起头 · 先来 · 先日
  2. ancestry;ancestors e.g 先陇 · 先陵 · 先铭
  3. forerunner;pioneer e.g 先引 · 先师 · 先达
  4. 姓
adjective
  1. earlier;before
  2. old;ancient e.g 先帝 · 先王
  3. chief;fundamental e.g 先天 先务
  4. super e.g 先后
  5. the deceased e.g 先朝顾命 · 先府君
adverb
  1. earlier;before

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