Usage of 先
The character 先 is commonly used to indicate doing something first or before something else. It often appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause to show priority or sequence in actions.
Common Collocations
- 先...然后... (first... then...): Used to describe a sequence of actions.
- 先说 (say first): Used when inviting someone to speak before others.
- 先到 (arrive first): Indicates someone arrives before others.
Notes
When using 先, the action that follows is understood to happen before others. It is often paired with 然后 (then) to show clear order. Avoid confusing 先 with 先前, which means 'previously' or 'before' in a temporal sense rather than sequence of actions.