"先" • Chinese-English Dictionary

DICTIONARY OPTIONS
CHARACTERS : Simplified Traditional
PHONETIC : Pinyin Bopomofo EFEO Wade-Giles Yale
» Search by Radical
Trad.
Radical
Radical
(Bushou)
Strokes 2
Composition
Strokes 6
Structure
Decomp. 牛儿
Prononciation
Mandarin xiān
Entry Methods
Pinyin xian1
Kanji /
Cangjie
HGHU
竹土竹山
Sijiao 2421.1
Wubi TFQB
CNS 11643 1-473F
Encodages (hexa)
Unicode U+5148
GB2312 CFC8
BIG5 A5FD
HSK
Level 3
 xiān beforehand / first / earlier / at first / originally / for the time being / for now / (prefix) my late (in referring to deceased relatives older than oneself)
Results beginning with 先
 xiān sheng teacher / gentleman / sir / mister (Mr.) / husband / (dialect) doctor / CL:位[wei4]
 xiān jìn sophisticated / advanced (technology etc) / meritorious / exemplary (deeds etc)
 xiān hòu early or late / first and last / priority / in succession / one after another
 xiān fēng vanguard / pioneer / avant-garde
 xiān qián before / previously
 xiān xíng to start off before the others / to precede / to proceed in advance
 xiān tiān embryonic period (contrasted with 後天|后天[hou4tian1]) / inborn / innate / natural
 xiān dào first arrival / first return
 xiān zhī a person of foresight / (religion) a prophet
 xiān jī critical opportunity
 xiān qū to pioneer / pioneer / trailblazer
 xiān fā to take preemptive action / (sports) to be in the starting lineup / (of a baseball pitcher) to be the starting pitcher
 xiān lì precedent
 xiān hé source / precursor / forerunner
 xiān dǎo to lead the way / guide / forerunner / pioneer
 xiān qī the time before a certain date / in advance / beforehand / premature / initial period
 xiān rén ancestor / forefather / sb's late father
 xiān liè martyr
 xiān zǔ (literary) my deceased grandfather / (literary) ancestors
 xiān jué prerequisite / necessary
 xiān Qín pre-Qin, Chinese history up to the foundation of the Qin imperial dynasty in 221 BC
 xiān bèi an older generation / ancestors / forefathers
 xiān zhào omen
 xiān mín forebears
 xiān tóu (usu. of troops) in advance / in the vanguard / previously / in front / placed ahead of others
 xiān wáng former sovereigns
 xiān xián (literary) ancient sage
 xiān jiàn foresight / prescience
 xiān fù deceased father / my late father
 xiān yàn (philosophy) a priori
 xiān lìng (loanword) shilling
 xiān zhé the wise and learned individuals of the past
 xiān shēng herald / precursor / harbinger
 xiān jué person of foresight
 xiān bǐ (literary) my late mother
 xiān biān to be the first / to lead the way
 xiān cí (literary) my late mother
 xiān dá (literary) our learned predecessors
 xiān gōng (literary) my late father
 xiān Hàn Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-8 AD), aka 西漢|西汉[Xi1 Han4]
 xiān Huáng emperor of a former dynasty
 xiān jūn my late father / my ancestors / the late emperor
 xiān róng to introduce sb, putting in a good word for them in advance
 xiān yǒu prior / preexisting
» MORE
 xiān tiān xìng congenital / intrinsic / innate
 xiān sheng men gentlemen
 xiān xíng zhě forerunner
 xiān fēng duì vanguard
 xiān qū zhě pioneer / trailblazer
 xiān qiǎn duì (military) advance party
  advance mission
 xiān bù xiān (dialect) first of all / in the first place
 xiān dà mǔ my late paternal grandmother
 xiān fēng pài avant-garde
 xiān jiàn zhě a visionary
 xiān jìn jí tǐ (official accolade) pace-setting team / exemplary group
 xiān jìn gè rén (official accolade) advanced individual / exemplary individual
 xiān fā zhì rén (idiom) to gain the initiative by striking first / to preempt
 xiān tiān bù zú to suffer from a congenital deficiency / to have an inherent weakness
 xiān shēng duó rén to gain the upper hand by a show of strength
 xiān zhī xiān jué having foresight / a person of foresight
 xiān jìn wǔ qì advanced weapon
 xiān zhǎn hòu zòu lit. first execute the criminal, then report it to the emperor (idiom) / fig. to take some drastic action without the prior approval of higher authorities
 xiān dǔ wéi kuài (idiom) to consider it a pleasure to be among the first to read (or watch or enjoy)
 xiān jiàn zhī míng foresight
 xiān lái hòu dào in order of arrival / first come, first served
 xiān lǐ hòu bīng lit. peaceful measures before using force (idiom) / fig. diplomacy before violence / jaw-jaw is better than war-war
 xiān rù wéi zhǔ (idiom) the first impression is the strongest / to hold a preconceived notion (about sth)
  advanced missile
  pioneer species
  pioneer species
  index case
  birth defect
 xiān bīng hòu lǐ opposite of 先禮後兵|先礼后兵[xian1 li3 hou4 bing1]
 xiān dào xiān dé first come first served
 xiān dì yí zhào posthumous edict of a former emperor / Liu Bei's 劉備|刘备[Liu2 Bei4] edict to posterity
 xiān dòng yōu shì first-mover advantage
 xiān fā tóu shǒu (baseball) starting pitcher
 xiān hòu shùn xù sequential order
 xiān jìn shuǐ píng advanced level
 xiān jìn xiān chū (computing, inventory management etc) first in, first out
 xiān jué tiáo jiàn a precondition / a prerequisite
 xiān jué wèn tí issue that needs to be addressed first (before another issue can be resolved)
 xiān jūn zhèng zhì Songun Jongchi / military first politics
 xiān lái - hòu dào (idiom) in order of arrival / first come, first served
 xiān qī lù yīn (filmmaking) to prerecord a musical soundtrack to which actors will later synchronize their performance during filming
 xiān tiān yú xíng (old) Down syndrome / trisomy 21
 xiān wáng zhī dào the way of former kings
 xiān wáng zhī yuè the music of former kings
 xiān wáng zhī zhèng the rule of former kings
 xiān yàn gài lu:4 (math.) prior probability
 xiān yǒu hòu hūn to marry after getting pregnant
 xiān zǒu yī bù to leave first (courteous expression used to excuse oneself) / (euphemism) to predecease / to die first (e.g. before one's spouse)
 xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng (idiom) strike first to gain the upper hand
  Advanced Scatterometer
  Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama'a
  proactive
  prior appropriation of water
  first-to-invent system
 xiān jìn jīng jì tǐ advanced economy
 xiān qū tóu zī zhě pioneer investor
 xiān tiān xìng miǎn yì congenital immunity
 xiān tiān xìng quē xiàn birth defect
 xiān tiān yǔ hòu tiān nature versus nurture
  forward management planning
  advanced meat recovery
  advanced missile system
  pre-emptive strike
  vanguard groups concept / vanguard concept
 xiān fēng gēng zuò zhì duó pioneer cultivation system
 xiān jìn fǎn léi xì tǒng Advanced Countermine System
 xiān jìn shēng mìng zhī chí advanced life support
  Advance Election Planning Unit
  pre-emptive war
  hot pre-emption
  bottom up negotiation
  advanced skills and technology
  advanced wave shaping techniques
  pioneer investor area / pioneer area
  Advanced Technology Assessment System
  Advanced Earth Observing Satellite
  Office of Advanced Research and Technology
  advanced mono-pulse seeker
  Advance Technology Alert System
  Directory of Advanced Technologies for Disaster Response / ATDR Directory
 xiān jìn guǐ dào shì yàn wèi xīng Advanced Orbital Test Satellite
 xiān jìn wēi bō tàn cè zhuāng zhì Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit
  advanced airborne digital computer
  advanced systems and technology programme
  ATAS Cluster
 xiān jìn dàn bái zhì shēng zhǎng shè shī Advanced Protein Growth Facility
 xiān tiān bù zú , hòu tiān shī tiáo to be born with a weak constitution and suffer from ill health during one's life / (fig.) to be problematic from the start, and get even worse over time
  Advanced Solid Rocket Motor
  Advanced Networked Cities and Regions Association
  ACTS Mobile Terminal
  International Symposium on Advanced Information Technology and Governance
 xiān tiān xià zhī yōu ér yōu , hòu tiān xià zhī lè ér lè to be the first to worry about affairs of state, and the last to enjoy oneself (quotation from the essay On Yueyang Tower 岳陽樓記|岳阳楼记[Yue4yang2 Lou2 Ji4] by Song writer Fan Zhongyan 范仲淹[Fan4 Zhong4yan1])
Approximate Results for 先
 shǒu xiān first (of all) / in the first place
 lǐng xiān to lead / to be in front
 yōu xiān to have priority / to take precedence
 shì xiān in advance / before the event / beforehand / prior
 shuài xiān to take the lead / to show initiative
 yuán xiān originally / original / former
 qiǎng xiān to rush (to do sth urgent) / to try to be the first / to forestall
 yù xiān beforehand / in advance
 zuì xiān (the) very first
 zǔ xiān ancestors / forebears / (biology) ancestral species / ancient species from which present-day species evolved
 zài xiān to come first / previous / prior / beforehand / first / formerly
 qǐ xiān at first / in the beginning
 zǎo xiān previously / before
 zhēng xiān to compete to be first / to contest first place
 zhàn xiān to take precedence
 bā xiān percent (loanword)
 cóng xiān (dialect) before / in the past / previously
 jǐn xiān in the first instance / as a first priority
 kāi xiān at first
 qí xiān previously / before that / up to then
» MORE
 Shào Xiān duì Young Pioneers of China, abbr. for 少年先鋒隊|少年先锋队[Shao4 nian2 Xian1 feng1 dui4]
 yōu xiān quán priority
 yōu xiān jí (computing) priority level / (computing) precedence (of operators)
 lǐng xiān zhě front-runner
 jí xiān fēng daring vanguard / pioneer / leading figure
 yōu xiān gǔ preferred stock
 Bái Xiān yǒng Bai Xianyong (1937-), Chinese-Taiwanese-US novelist of Hui descent
 Dé xiān sheng "Mr Democracy", phrase used during the May 4th Movement 五四運動|五四运动[Wu3 si4 Yun4 dong4] / abbr. for 德謨克拉西|德谟克拉西[de2 mo2 ke4 la1 xi1] / see also 賽先生|赛先生[Sai4 xian1 sheng5]
 Lǐ Xiān niàn Li Xiannian (1909-1992), PRC general and politician
 Sài xiān sheng "Mr Science", phrase used during the May 4th Movement 五四運動|五四运动[Wu3 si4 Yun4 dong4] / abbr. for 賽因斯|赛因斯[sai4 yin1 si1] / see also 德先生[De2 xian1 sheng5]
 zhēng xiān kǒng hòu striving to be first and fearing to be last (idiom) / outdoing one another
 yáo yáo lǐng xiān a long way in front / to lead by a wide margin
 shào xiān duì yuán member of the Young Pioneers
 yī mǎ dāng xiān to take the lead
 jié zú xiān dēng the quick-footed climb up first (idiom) / the early bird catches the worm / first come, first served
 shēn xiān shì zú to fight at the head of one's troops / (fig.) to take the lead
 wèi bǔ xiān zhī predictable / sth one can predict without being a clairvoyant
 hǎo hǎo xiān sheng Mr Goody-goody / yes-man (sb who agrees with anything)
 kāi lù xiān fēng pioneer / trailblazer
 wèi lǎo xiān shuāi to age prematurely
 bèn niǎo xiān fēi lit. the clumsy bird flies early (idiom) / fig. to work hard to compensate for one's limited abilities
 yǒu yuē zài xiān to have a prior engagement
 chéng xiān qǐ hòu see 承前啟後|承前启后[cheng2 qian2 qi3 hou4]
 kè xiān zhāo lù the morning dew will swiftly dissipate (idiom) / fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence
 shēn xiān zhāo lù body will go with the morning dew (idiom) / fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence
  prior assessment
  preemption
  advance allocation
  advance authorization
  prior art
  precursor chemical
  Priorities for Action
  Umkhonto we Sizwe
  last common ancestor / concestor
  advance pledge
  advance notification
  pre-certification
 Aì luó xiān kē Vasili Eroshenko (1890-1952), Russian writer and poet who wrote in Esperanto and Japanese
 dài kè lǐ xiān Diocletian (c. 245-311), Roman emperor
 Dà xiān zhī shū the biblical books of the prophets
 fēng shuǐ xiān sheng feng shui master / geomancer / stock figure in folk tales, as a wise adviser or a charlatan
 gǎn wéi rén xiān to dare to be first / to pioneer (idiom)
 gé mìng xiān liè martyr to the revolution
 Hān dòu Xiān sheng Mr. Bean (TV)
 hòu jìn xiān chū to come late and leave first / last in, first out (LIFO)
 lǐng xiān dì wèi lead(ing) position
 nu:3 shì yōu xiān Ladies first!
 qǐng xiān dēng lù please register first
 shì xiān biān zhì pre-programming
 shì xiān tōng zhī preliminary notification / to announce in advance
 suàn mìng xiān sheng fortune-teller
 Téng yě Xiān sheng Yoshino-Sensei, Japanese friend of Lu Xun 魯迅|鲁迅[Lu3 Xun4]
 wén fēng xiān dùn to flee at hearing the news (idiom)
 yáo yáo - lǐng xiān (idiom) a long way in front / to lead by a wide margin
 yī mǎ - dāng xiān (idiom) to take the lead
 yōu xiān cì xù priorization
使 yōu xiān shǐ yòng priority of use
 yōu xiān xiàng mù priority projects
 yōu xiān yuán zé principle of precedence
 yù xiān bù shǔ prepositioning
 yù xiān dào wèi prepositioning
 yù xiān gòu mǎi forward purchasing
 zhàng fáng xiān sheng bookkeeper (old)
 zhí xì zǔ xiān direct ancestor
 zhǔ bù xiān kè guests or visitors first (idiom)
 Shào nián Xiān fēng duì Young Pioneers of China (primary school league, a preparation for Communist Youth League) / abbr. to 少先隊|少先队
  preferred bidder
  Colonie des Pionniers de Développement
  Priority Survey
  early bird special (prop)
  Priority Africa Department
 àn shí jiān xiān hòu chronological
 bǎi shàn xiào wéi xiān of all virtues filial piety is most important (idiom)
使 bù shǒu xiān shǐ yòng no first use (policy for nuclear weapons) / NFU
 chán jiā èr xiān sheng annoying muddle-headed person who gabbles unintelligibly
 è rén xiān gào zhuàng the guilty party files the suit / the thief cries thief
 luó xiān tè jí shì Rason
 yōu xiān chéng gòu quán prior purchase right / right of first refusal (ROFR) / preemptive right to purchase
 yōu xiān gòu mǎi quán right of first refusal
 yōu xiān rèn gǔ quán preemptive right (in share issue)
  Programme for Priority Actions
  time series data / time series
  prepositioning
  food priority country
 guó jiā yōu xiān mù biāo national priority objectives
西 niǔ xī lán yōu xiān dǎng New
 quán qiú yōu xiān shì xiàng global priorities
 shì xiān zhī qíng tòng yì prior informed consent
 yōu xiān huī fù fāng àn Priority Rehabilitation Programme
 yù xiān shāi xuǎn guò chéng pre-screening process
 yù xiān shì chǎng chéng nuò advance market commitment
 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
 Zhōng guó Shǎo nián Xiān fēng duì Young Pioneers of China
 chūn jiāng shuǐ nuǎn yā xiān zhī lit. the duck is the first to know if the spring water is warm (idiom) / fig. an expert in the field knows which way the wind blows
 chū shī wèi jié shēn xiān sǐ "he failed to complete his quest before death" (line from the poem "The Premier of Shu" 蜀相[Shu3 xiang4] by Du Fu 杜甫[Du4 Fu3])
 chū tóu de chuán zi xiān làn lit. rafters that jut out rot first (idiom) / fig. anyone who makes himself conspicuous will be targeted for attack
 Guó jì Xiān qū Lùn tán Bào International Herald Tribune
 zhěng tǐ xìng yōu xiān shì xiàng corporate priority
  peacebuilding priority plan
  Priority Social Action Programme
使  non first use of nuclear weapons / non first use
  United Nations advance team in Sudan
  Project of Girl Children's Priorities
  United Nations Mission in Haiti advance team / UNMIH advance team
 zì yóu shì xiān zhī qíng tòng yì free, prior and informed consent
2000年  Priorities for Action Beyond 2000
  List of Chemicals for Priority Action
  Council on Economic Priorities
  Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
  Strategic Priority on Adaptation
西  Melanesian Spearhead Group
 bīng mǎ wèi dòng , liáng cǎo xiān xíng before the troops move, fodder and provisions go first (idiom) / logistics comes before military maneuvers / an army marches on its stomach
 lián hé guó zhù sū dān xiān qiǎn tuán United Nations Advance Mission in Sudan / United Nations Advance Mission in the Sudan;
 yì cún bǐ xiān , huà jìn yì zài the idea is present before the first stroke of the brush, when the last stroke is placed the idea shines through
"先"方  "Advanced Systems and Applications" programme
·  José Martí Pioneer Organization
  Inter-American Fund for Priority Assistance to Haiti
  United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia
 yòng yōu xiān gòu mǎi quán suǒ gòu wù pǐn preemption
 yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
  Sipah e Sahaba Pakistan
  Expert Group on Global Priorities for Youth
 gōng yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
 shì xiān zhī qíng tòng yì lián hé zhuān jiā zǔ Joint Group of Experts on Prior Informed Consent
  Division for the Coordination of United Nations Priorities in Education
  Inventory of Priority Projects for South American Integration
  Priority Issues on the Current Disarmament Agenda
  Islamic Foundation for Advanced Science and Technology
  Advance mission to Chad and the Central African Republic
1986-1990年 1986-1990nián fēi zhōu jīng jì fù sū yōu xiān fāng àn Africa's Priority Programme for Economic Recovery 1986-1990
Chinese Tones