HSK 1 · Chinese hanzi
先 — first, before
- Reading
- xiān
- Meaning
- first, before
- HSK level
- HSK 1
- Language
- Chinese
About this hanzi
先 is a chinese hanzi character commonly studied at the HSK 1 level. Its primary reading is xiān and it means first, before. To master it, see it in real Chinese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
先 appears in everyday chinese words such as 先 (first, before), 先生 (Mr., husband) and 首先 (first of all, firstly).
Chinese words containing 先
Frequently asked questions
What does 先 mean in Chinese?
先 means first, before in Chinese. It is one of the HSK 1 hanzi every learner meets at that level.
How is 先 read?
先 is read xiān. Reading it inside real words — 先 and 先生 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 先 — is it HSK 1?
Yes. 先 is on the official HSK 1 hanzi list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 先 in a word?
A common word containing 先 is 先 (xiān) — "first, before". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 先 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Chinese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 先 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More HSK 1 hanzi
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