HSK 6
预先
yùxiān
ahead of time
Structure
Subject + 预先 + Verb / Adjective
How it works
The adverb '预先' means 'in advance' or 'ahead of time.' It is used to describe actions taken or states existing before a specific event occurs, often implying preparation or foresight.
Examples
为了确保会议顺利进行，我们需要预先准备好所有资料。
Wèile quèbǎo huìyì shùnlì jìnxíng, wǒmen xūyào yùxiān zhǔnbèi hǎo suǒyǒu zīliào.
To ensure the meeting goes smoothly, we need to prepare all materials in advance.
大家预先都没有想到这个项目会如此受欢迎。
Dàjiā yùxiān dōu méiyǒu xiǎngdào zhège xiàngmù huì rúcǐ shòu huānyíng.
No one expected this project to be so popular beforehand.
你应该预先通知他，免得他到时候措手不及。
Nǐ yīnggāi yùxiān tōngzhī tā, miǎnde tā dào shíhou cuòshǒubùjí.
You should notify him in advance so he won't be caught off guard when the time comes.
Common mistakes
Confusing '预先' with '首先'. '预先' means 'in advance', whereas '首先' means 'firstly' or 'first of all' in a sequence.
Tip
In formal writing, '预先' is often interchangeable with '事先', but '预先' emphasizes acting 'beforehand' as a form of preparation.
More HSK 6 grammar
See 预先 in real Chinese
Import an article and tap any sentence using it. The explanation comes back about the sentence in front of you, not a textbook example.
Try InputDojo free