最先

zuìxiān

adverb #7,635

Meanings

1 first (of all)
2 earliest
3 the very first

Characters

Examples

她最先到达了终点。

Tā zuìxiān dàodá le zhōngdiǎn.

She was the first to reach the finish line.

谁最先发现了这个问题？

Shéi zuìxiān fāxiàn le zhège wèntí?

Who first discovered this problem?

最先知道消息的人是他。

Zuìxiān zhīdào xiāoxi de rén shì tā.

He was the first person to learn the news.

Tips

grammar

最先 emphasizes being the absolute first. Compare with 先 (xiān, first/before) which is less emphatic and 首先 (shǒuxiān) which means 'first of all' in listing order.

Stroke Order

最 zuì

先 xiān