先 (xiān) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 先 (xiān) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 先 (xiān) means "first; early; before". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 6 strokes and the radical 儿.

Q: How do you write 先 stroke by stroke?

先 has 6 strokes. The radical is 儿. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 先 and 允?

先 (xiān) and 允 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 先?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 儿. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 先?

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.

How to Write 先

The character 先 (xiān) is written with 6 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 儿 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

先 is pronounced xiān in Mandarin Chinese. It means first; early; before.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 先 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 先

首先 shǒu xiān

first of all

先生 xiān shēng

Mr.; husband; teacher; gentleman

先走 xiān zǒu

to leave first

Example Sentences

首先，我们要制定一个计划。

shǒu xiān ， wǒ men yào zhì dìng yí gè jì huà 。

First, we need to make a plan.

王先生在办公室。

wáng xiān shēng zài bàn gōng shì

Mr. Wang is in the office.

我先走了，明天见。

wǒ xiān zǒu le míng tiān jiàn

I'm leaving now, see you tomorrow.

Similar Characters

允 yǔn

元 yuán

兄 xiōng

Practice Writing 先 (xiān)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 先 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 先

What does 先 (xiān) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 先 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 先 and 允?

What mistakes do learners make writing 先?

What common words use 先?

How to Write 先 (xiān)