How to Write 先 (xiān) — Meaning “first; early; before”

Imagine a cow (牛) taking a step forward with its legs (儿). The cow is the 'first' to move, so you remember that 先 means 'first' or 'before'.

Write the top part first: a left-falling stroke, then a horizontal, then a vertical, then a shorter horizontal. Be careful not to make the top look exactly like 牛 (the second horizontal should be shorter). Finally, add the bottom 儿 with a left-falling stroke and a vertical hook.

先 has a top resembling 牛 (cow) and means 'before', while 允 has a top like 厶 and means 'to permit'. 元 has two horizontal strokes at the top and means 'first' in terms of origin, like in 元旦 (New Year's Day), but is used differently from 先.

先 is often used as an adverb meaning 'first' or 'before', as in 先走 (leave first). A very common word is 先生 (xiān shēng), which means 'Mr.' or 'teacher', and is a respectful way to address a man in Chinese culture.

Common words containing 先 include: 首先 (shǒu xiān) — first of all; 先生 (xiān shēng) — Mr.; husband; teacher; gentleman; 先走 (xiān zǒu) — to leave first.