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首先 (shǒu xiān) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 4

首先 (shǒu xiān) is a Chinese word: firstly. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 首先

副 fù adverb

firstly

首先，我们要了解问题的本质。

shǒu xiān wǒ men yào liǎo jiě wèn tí de běn zhì

First, we need to understand the essence of the problem.

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Word breakdown

首 shǒu — foremost, primary position

Words with this character (16)
Show more (+11)
  • 6 回首 huí shǒu — look back HSK 7
    • 回 return, turn back
    • 首 head
    Example

    回首过去，我们走过了很长的路。

    huí shǒu guò qù wǒ men zǒu guò le hěn cháng de lù

    Looking back at the past, we've come a long way.

  • 7 罪魁祸首 zuì kuí huò shǒu — chief culprit HSK 7
    • 罪 crime, wrongdoing
    • 魁 chief, leader
    • 祸 disaster, calamity
    • 首 head, primary
    Example

    吸烟是肺癌的罪魁祸首。

    xī yān shì fèi ái de zuì kuí huò shǒu

    Smoking is the chief culprit of lung cancer.

  • 8 自首 zì shǒu — to turn oneself in HSK 7
    • 自 self, oneself (indicating voluntary action)
    • 首 to confess, to report (a crime to authorities)
    Example

    律师建议他尽快自首。

    lǜ shī jiàn yì tā jǐn kuài zì shǒu

    The lawyer advised him to turn himself in as soon as possible.

  • 9 部首 bù shǒu — radical HSK 7
    • 部 section, category
    • 首 head, primary element
    Example

    这个汉字的部首是水。

    zhè ge hàn zì de bù shǒu shì shuǐ

    This Chinese character's radical is water.

  • 10 首付 shǒu fù — down payment HSK 7
    • 首 first, initial
    • 付 payment, to pay
    Example

    他攒了三年才凑够首付。

    tā zǎn le sān nián cái còu gòu shǒu fù

    He saved for three years before he could gather enough for the down payment.

  • 11 首创 shǒu chuàng — to pioneer HSK 7
    Example

    这家公司首创了在线支付系统。

    zhè jiā gōng sī shǒu chuàng le zài xiàn zhī fù xì tǒng

    This company pioneered the online payment system.

  • 12 首席 shǒu xí — chief HSK 7
    • 首 first, leading, head
    • 席 seat, position, place
    Example

    他是公司的首席执行官。

    tā shì gōng sī de shǒu xí zhí xíng guān

    He is the company's chief executive officer.

  • 13 首府 shǒu fǔ — capital HSK 7
    • 首 chief, principal, primary
    • 府 government seat, administrative center
    Example

    乌鲁木齐是新疆的首府。

    Wū lǔ mù qí shì Xīn jiāng de shǒu fǔ

    Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang.

  • 14 首批 shǒu pī — first batch HSK 7
    • 首 first, foremost
    • 批 batch, group, lot
    Example

    首批产品已经发货。

    shǒu pī chǎn pǐn yǐ jīng fā huò

    The first batch of products has already been shipped.

  • 15 首脑 shǒu nǎo — leader HSK 7
    • 首 chief, head, foremost
    • 脑 brain, mind
    Example

    两国首脑将在下周举行会谈。

    liǎng guó shǒu nǎo jiāng zài xià zhōu jǔ xíng huì tán

    The leaders of the two countries will hold talks next week.

  • 16 首饰 shǒu shì — jewelry HSK 7
    • 首 head/body (referring to items worn on the person)
    • 饰 ornament/decoration
    Example

    她喜欢戴金色的首饰。

    tā xǐ huan dài jīn sè de shǒu shì

    She likes to wear gold jewelry.

先 xiān — before, preceding in order

Words with this character (15)
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Structure & writing
1 首 shǒu — head; skull
首 is a component in 1 characters
HSK 1
道 dào road; path; passage

consists of

1.1 丷 bā — divide/separate, the number eight
丷 is a component in 24 characters
HSK 1
关 guān to close; to shut 前 qián front; the direction one faces (opposite of 后) 半 bàn one half; half (used before the measure word when there is no whole number, or after when there is) 商 shāng to discuss, to consult with others 来 lái to come (toward the speaker), opposite of 去
HSK 2
旁 páng side; nearby
HSK 3
南 nán south (one of the four cardinal directions, opposite of north) 平 píng flat; level; even (like the surface of still water) 总 zǒng to gather together, to assemble
HSK 4
产 chǎn to give birth 并 bìng to merge; to combine into one 幸 xìng happy; fortunate 首 shǒu head; skull
HSK 5
善 shàn kind; benevolent; charitable (opposite of 恶)
HSK 6
兼 jiān doubled; combining two portions into one 夹 jiā to clamp; to press from both sides to hold something in place 帝 dì supreme deity or ruler of the universe in religion or mythology
HSK 7
兑 duì exchange (old gold or silver items for new ones at a jewelry shop) 兽 shòu beast; mammal (generally referring to four-legged, fur-covered mammals) 凿 záo chisel (a hand tool with a blade for carving or boring) 啬 sè miserly, stingy with money or possessions 逆 nì to go in the opposite direction (opposite of 顺)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+2)
邃 suì deep and distant (of time or space) 隧 suì tunnel; underground or mountain passage
1.2 自 zì — oneself; one's own self
自 is a component in 6 characters
HSK 1
息 xī breath; air inhaled and exhaled
HSK 3
咱 zán we (inclusive of both speaker and listener), equivalent to "咱们" 夏 xià summer (the second of the four seasons)
HSK 4
首 shǒu head; skull 鼻 bí nose (olfactory and respiratory organ)
HSK 5
臭 chòu foul-smelling; stinking (opposite of 香)

Stroke order

2 先 xiān — before; preceding (opposite of 'after')
先 is a component in 4 characters
HSK 2
洗 xǐ to wash; to clean with water, gasoline, kerosene, etc.
HSK 3
选 xuǎn to choose; to select; to pick
HSK 5
赞 zàn to help; to support
HSK 7
宪 xiàn (lit.) laws and decrees

先 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order