先 xiān
first / before
先 (xiān) means "first / before" in Chinese and is one of the highest-frequency words in the Speak1000 curriculum.
Words used with 先
然后
ránhòu
then / afterwards
您
nín
you (polite form)
第一
dì yī
first (ordinal number, e.g., first place)
Frequently asked questions
What does 先 (xiān) mean in Chinese?
先 (xiān) means "first / before" in Chinese. 先 (xiān) means "first / before" in Chinese and is one of the highest-frequency words in the Speak1000 curriculum.
How do you use 先 in a sentence?
Use 先 (xiān) the way you would use "first / before" in English, then build longer sentences by adding words you already know around it.
What words are commonly used with 先?
Common words that pair with 先 include 然后, 您, 第一. Learning these together helps you build complete, natural sentences instead of isolated vocabulary.
What is the difference between 先 (xiān) and 然后 (ránhòu)?
Both are high-frequency Chinese words taught early in Speak1000. 先 means "first / before"; 然后 means "then / after that". The fastest way to tell them apart is to hear each one used in real sentences — our free lessons drill every word in context so the contrast becomes natural.
Related Chinese concepts
Why this concept matters
One concept should unlock a network, not one translation
Speak1000 teaches 先 as part of a cumulative sentence network. You connect it to concepts you already know, hear the combinations in context, and retrieve them in new situations.
See the Concept Unlock MethodHear 先 used in real sentences
The fastest way to remember 先 (xiān) is to hear it used naturally. Start with our free interactive lesson and practice with real audio from day one.
Try Free Lesson: Unit 1