首先
HSK 4 (exam 2025)HSK 3 (2021)Old HSK 4
首先 (shǒuxiān) · first
首先 (shǒuxiān) means “first; first of all”. It is written with 2 characters: 首 (measure word for songs and poems) + 先 (first). It is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 首先 is built
The characters
首 shǒu · measure word for songs and poems
What 首 is made of
- 丷ha — kwukyel
- 丶 — dot
- 自zì — self
- 目mù — eye
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 二 — two strokes
- 目mù — eye
Origin hint: A deer's head 自 adorned with antlers 丷 (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
首先，我们要了解情况。Shǒuxiān, wǒmen yào liǎojiě qíngkuàng.First of all, we need to understand the situation.
到了以后，首先给我打电话。Dào le yǐhòu, shǒuxiān gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.When you arrive, call me first thing.
Questions about 首先
What does 首先 mean?
首先 (shǒuxiān) means “first; first of all”.
How do you pronounce 首先?
首先 is pronounced shǒuxiān.
Which HSK level is 首先?
首先 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 3 (2021) and Old HSK 4.
Related words
- 首都shǒudūcapital (city)
- 首饰shǒushìjewellery
- 首要shǒuyàomost important
- 元首yuánshǒuhead of state
- 首shǒumeasure word for songs and poems
- 先生xiānshengMr
- 领先lǐngxiānto lead
- 先进xiānjìnadvanced
- 事先shìxiānin advance
- 率先shuàixiānto take the lead
Learn 首先 with its group
It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 86: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.