先
xiān
Pinyin
Definition
先
-
- early
- prior
- former
- in advance
- first
Character Decomposition
Idioms (18)
先下手为强
- 1 strike first and gain the upper hand (idiom, martial arts term); Making the first move is an advantage.
先斩后奏
- 1 first decapitate then present your trophy (idiom); act first, report later
先发制人
- 1 to gain the initiative by striking first (idiom); to preempt
- 2 to anticipate
- 3 preemptive
先睹为快
- 1 joy of first experience (idiom)
- 2 the pleasure of reading sth for the first time
先礼后兵
- 1 peaceful measures before using force (idiom); diplomacy before violence
- 2 jaw-jaw is better than war-war
Sample Sentences
我先生今儿出门儿的时候,说要和大学同学聚餐,我总觉得不对劲儿,一定有事儿,就打电话问了一个熟人,他就露馅儿了,我压根儿没想到他会这样骗我。
When my husband went out today and said he was going to have dinner with his college friends, I couldn’t help feeling that something was wrong. I called an acquaintance and he gave my husband away. I had no idea he would lie to me like that.
先生
Mr.
很多老一辈的中国人喜欢听相声,尤其是郭德纲先生的。说起郭德纲,他不只相声厉害,还熟悉各种戏曲,所以很多人想成为他的学生呢。
Many older Chinese like to listen to cross talk, especially Mr. Guo Degang’s. Speaking of Guo Degang, he is not only good at cross talk, but also familiar with various operas, so many people want to be his students.
差不多先生的名字,天天挂在大家的口头,因为他是中国全国人的代表。
Every day, Mr. Chabuduo's name is uttered by countless people to the extent that he has come to represent the entire population of China.
差不多先生的相貌和你和我都差不多。他有一双眼睛,但看的不很清楚;有两只耳朵,但听的不很分明;有鼻子和嘴,但他对于气味和口味都不很讲究。
Mr. Chabuduo’s appearance resembles yours and mine. He has two eyes - but does not see things very clearly. He has two ears - but they don't listen very well. He has a nose and a mouth, but does not distinguish much between different smells and tastes.
先生说,“错了。是山西,不是陕西。”他说:“陕西同山西,不是差不多吗?”
“Wrong!” the teacher corrected him. “It is Shanxi not Shaanxi.” Mr. Chabuduo said, “Well aren't Shanxi and Shaanxi just about the same?"
他在学堂的时候,先生问他:“直隶省的西边是哪一省?”他说是陕西。
Once, while attending school, a teacher asked him which province was located on the western border of Hebei. He said it was Shaanxi.
我认为李先生不怎么合适,我比较喜欢张小姐。
I don’t think Mr. Lee is that suitable for the role. I prefer Ms. Chang.
我先干为敬。
I will bottoms up to show my respect for you.
您先用、您先用。
Please go first.