在先

zàixiān

adverb #33,660

Meanings

1 beforehand; first; in advance
2 previously; formerly
3 (of order/priority) to come first

Characters

Examples

话说在先，迟到了不等你。

Huàshuō zàixiān, chídào le bùděng nǐ.

Let me say this beforehand: if you're late, I won't wait.

效率在先，质量其次。

Xiàolǜ zàixiān, zhìliàng qícì.

Efficiency comes first, quality second.

他在先就提醒过我们。

Tā zàixiān jiù tíxǐng guò wǒmen.

He had warned us beforehand.

Tips

usage

Most common in the formula 话说在先 ('let me say this upfront') and the priority pattern 'X在先, Y其次' ('X first, Y second'). Slightly bookish — colloquial speech prefers 事先 (in advance) or 先 alone.

Stroke Order

在 zài

先 xiān