原先
Old HSK 6
原先 (yuánxiān) · originally
原先 (yuánxiān) means “originally; formerly”. It is written with 2 characters: 原 (source) + 先 (first). It is an old HSK 6 word (HSK 2.0).
How 原先 is built
The characters
原 yuán · source
What 原 is made of
- 厂chǎng — cliff
- 泉quán — spring
Origin hint: 厂 gives the meaning, 泉 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
先 xiān · first
What 先 is made of
- 土tǔ — earth
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 十 — ten
- 儿ér — child
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 乚 — hook stroke
Origin hint: Someone stepping 止 in front of another person 儿 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
原先的计划改变了。Yuánxiān de jìhuà gǎibiàn le.The original plan has changed.
他原先是一名老师。Tā yuánxiān shì yīmíng lǎoshī.He used to be a teacher.
Questions about 原先
What does 原先 mean?
原先 (yuánxiān) means “originally; formerly”.
How do you pronounce 原先?
原先 is pronounced yuánxiān.
Which HSK level is 原先?
原先 is in Old HSK 6.
Related words
- 原来yuánláioriginally
- 原因yuányīnreason
- 原料yuánliàoraw material
- 原则yuánzéprinciple
- 原谅yuánliàngto forgive
- 还原huányuánto restore
- 平原píngyuánplain
- 原告yuángàoplaintiff
- 原理yuánlǐprinciple
- 原始yuánshǐoriginal
Learn 原先 with its group
It is part of Old HSK 6 · Group 223: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.