先 [－]

Jyutping sin1
Pinyin xiǎn

Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. character
    Only used in 先馬／先马.

先 [－]

Jyutping sin1
Pinyin xiàn

Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. character, obsolete
    ^† to introduce
  2. character, obsolete
    ^† originally
  3. character, obsolete
    ^† to guide; to initiate
  4. character, obsolete
    ^† to surpass
  5. character, obsolete
    ^† to be earlier
  6. character, obsolete
    ^† term of address for one's elder brother's wife

先 [－]

Jyutping sin3
Pinyin xiān

Definitions (CC-CANTO)
  1. early/prior/former/in advance/first/for now/ancestor/pioneering/only then

先 [－]

Jyutping sin1
Pinyin xiān

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. early
  2. prior
  3. former
  4. in advance
  5. first
Definitions (CC-CANTO)
  1. early/prior/former/in advance/first/for now/ancestor/pioneering/only then
Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. 助詞
    表示​想​獲得​補​充訊息​或者​認同
    used to express a desire for complementary information or approval
    • 你心入面想揀咩先？而家拖拖拉拉算點先？
      你心入面想拣咩先？而家拖拖拉拉算点先？
      nei5 sam1 jap6 min6 soeng2 gaan2 me1 sin1? ji4 gaa1 to1 to1 laai1 laai1 syun3 dim2 sin1?
      What's your choice in your mind? What's the point of struggling?
    • 你話係咪先？
      你话系咪先？
      nei5 waa6 hai6 mai6 sin1?
      Isn't it? Right?
  2. 詞綴
    前綴​，​放​喺​前面​尊稱​死去​嘅​人
    respectful prefix for deceased
    • 先皇
      先皇
      sin1 wong4
      the late emperor
    • 先父
      先父
      sin1 fu6
      one's own late father
  3. 詞綴
    前綴​，​指過​去​嘅​時​間
    ago; before; earlier; used as a prefix
    • 先幾日
      先几日
      sin1 gei2 jat6
      a few days ago
    • 先幾年
      先几年
      sin1 gei2 nin4
      a few years ago
  4. 近義詞
    前、去、舊
  5. 反義詞
    後
  6. 副詞
    喺​次序​上​，​某個​人​早過​指定​嘅​對​象​做​咗​同一​個行​為​，​又​或者​指出​同一​個​人​做​某件事​早過​做​其他​事
    first; earlier; before
    • 佢先過你嚟到。
      佢先过你嚟到。
      keoi5 sin1 gwo3 nei5 lai4 dou3.
      He arrived here earlier than you.
    • 我哋出發先喇，陣間嗰度見啦！
      我哋出发先喇，阵间𠮶度见啦！
      ngo5 dei6 ceot1 faat3 sin1 laa3, zan6 gaan1 go2 dou6 gin3 laa1!
      We'll set off first, see you there in a while!
    • 我食下午茶先，食完就去。
      我食下午茶先，食完就去。
      ngo5 sik6 haa6 ng5 caa4 sin1, sik6 jyun4 zau6 heoi3.
      I'll have afternoon tea first, and then go.
    • 我哋先睇下現場情況。
      我哋先睇下现场情况。
      ngo5 dei6 sin1 tai2 haa5 jin6 coeng4 cing4 fong3.
      Let's see the situation on the site first.
  7. 副詞
    祈使​自己​或​他人​優先​實現​某個​動作​，​早過​其他​；​位置​喺​句​尾​，​通常​同​「​等​」​、​「​要​」​連用
    to indicate the imperative mood that the speaker oneself or others could realize an action earlier than other ones; often used with 等dang2 or 要jiu3
    • 等我食個下午茶先。
      等我食个下午茶先。
      dang2 ngo5 sik6 go3 haa6 ng5 caa4 sin1.
      Let me eat afternoon tea first.
    • 你要等我唞下先。
      你要等我唞下先。
      nei5 jiu3 dang2 ngo5 tau2 haa5 sin1.
      Give me some time for rest, can you.
    • 你要聽我講晒先。
      你要听我讲晒先。
      nei5 jiu3 teng1 ngo5 gong2 saai3 sin1.
      You have to listen and let me finish first.
    • 佢坐好啲先。
      佢坐好啲先。
      keoi5 co5 hou2 di1 sin1.
      Could he sit properly first.
  8. 副詞
    暫時​；​通常​會​同動​詞後綴​「​住​」​一齊用
    temporarily; for the time being; for now; usually used with the suffix 住zyu6 after verbs
    • 咪住先，呢度有啲問題。
      咪住先，呢度有啲问题。
      mai5 zyu6 sin1, ni1 dou6 jau5 di1 man6 tai4.
      Hold on, there are some problems.
    • 你用住先。
      你用住先。
      nei5 jung6 zyu6 sin1.
      Just use it for the time being.
    • 傾住咁多先，聽日繼續。
      倾住咁多先，听日继续。
      king1 zyu6 gam3 do1 sin1, ting1 jat6 gai3 zuk6.
      Let's stop (our conversation) here and continue tomorrow.
  9. 副詞
    形容​要達成​某個​條件​至​可以​做​／​完成​某件事
    (usually preceded by an expression of reason or condition) not unless; not until; then and only then; for no other reason
    • 佢要食三碗飯先飽。
      佢要食三碗饭先饱。
      keoi5 jiu3 sik6 saam1 wun2 faan6 sin1 baau2.
      He has to eat 3 bowls of rice before he's full.
    • 佢話得先得。
      佢话得先得。
      keoi5 waa6 dak1 sin1 dak1.
      He's got to say OK before it's possible.
    • 佢話去我先去。
      佢话去我先去。
      keoi5 waa6 heoi3 ngo5 sin1 heoi3.
      If and only if he says he'll go, I'll go (too).
    • 你要點先肯原諒我吖？
      你要点先肯原谅我吖？
      nei5 jiu3 dim2 sin1 hang2 jyun4 loeng6 ngo5 aa1?
      So what do you want so as to forgive me?
  10. 副詞
    形容​事件​發生​得​遲過​預期​，​或者​所​需數​目多過​預期
    (usually preceded by an expression of time) not until
    • 乜你咁遲先嚟㗎？
      乜你咁迟先嚟㗎？
      mat1 nei5 gam3 ci4 sin1 lai4 gaa3?
      Why are you so late that you have just arrived now?
    • 佢九點先嚟，晏唔晏啲啊？
      佢九点先嚟，晏唔晏啲啊？
      keoi5 gau2 dim2 sin1 lai4, aan3 m4 aan3 di1 aa3?
      He didn't come until 9 o'clock. Isn't that a bit late?
    • 你做乜而家先講啊？
      你做乜而家先讲啊？
      nei5 zou6 mat1 ji4 gaa1 sin1 gong2 aa3?
      Why are you telling me this now (but not earlier)?
    • 十蚊先買到兩個橙？有冇搞錯啊！
      十蚊先买到两个橙？有冇搞错啊！
      sap6 man1 sin1 maai5 dou2 loeng5 go3 caang2? jau5 mou5 gaau2 co3 aa3!
      I need $10 to buy only 2 oranges? You've got to be kidding!
    • 呢部鋼琴要五個人先抬得起。
      呢部钢琴要五个人先擡得起。
      nei1 bou6 gong3 kam4 jiu3 ng5 go3 jan4 sin1 toi4 dak1 hei2.
      This piano needs 5 people to pick it up.
  11. 副詞
    只​係​、​淨​係
    (followed by a numerical expression) only
    • 而家先五點，好早啫！
      而家先五点，好早啫！
      ji4 gaa1 sin1 ng5 dim2, hou2 zou2 ze1!
      It's only 5 o'clock, it's still early.
    • 廣東話先有得咁講，英文冇囉。
      广东话先有得咁讲，英文冇啰。
      gwong2 dung1 waa2 sin1 jau5 dak1 gam2 gong2, jing1 man2 mou5 lo1.
      Only Cantonese has this saying, English does not have it.
  12. 副詞
    其實​、​事實​上​；​發音​短促​，​加強​肯定​語氣​，​用​嚟​反駁​對​方​嘅​講​法
    (shortly uttered as an assertion or contradiction emphasizing what comes beforehand) actually; really
    • 你以為佢咁蠢咩？佢先唔蠢啊！
      你以为佢咁蠢咩？佢先唔蠢啊！
      nei5 ji5 wai4 keoi5 gam3 ceon2 me1? keoi5 sin1 m4 ceon2 aa3!
      You think he's so stupid? He's not stupid at all!
    • 你估我好想理嘎？我先唔想理啊！
      你估我好想理嘎？我先唔想理啊！
      nei5 gu2 ngo5 hou2 soeng2 lei5 gaa4? ngo5 sin1 m4 soeng2 lei5 aa3!
      You think I really care? I couldn't care less.
    • 你先嘥錢啊！
      你先嘥钱啊！
      nei5 sin1 saai1 cin2 aa3!
      You're the one who's wasting money.
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. character
    first; ahead of time; before; beforehand
    • 唔好去住先。
      唔好去住先。
      m4 hou2 heoi3 zyu6 sin1.
      (For now) don't go.
    • 我要先去洗手間。
      我要先去洗手间。
      wǒ yào xiān qù xǐ shǒu jiān ．
      I need to go to the bathroom first.
    • 他比我先畢業。
      他比我先毕业。
      tā bǐ wǒ xiān bì yè ．
      He graduated earlier than me.
    • 我要去厕所先。
      我要去厕所先。
      ngo5 jiu3 heoi3 ci3 so2 sin1.
      I need to go to the bathroom first.
  2. character, colloquial
    earlier on; before; at first
  3. character
    for the time being; for the moment
  4. character, Cantonese
    only then
    • 佢𰥛到而家先𰥛醒觉。
      佢𰥛到而家先𰥛醒觉。
      keoi5 fan3 dou3 ji4 gaa1 sin1 fan3 seng2 gaau3.
      He slept so long that he only woke up just now.
  5. character, Cantonese
    first off
    • 你買咗未先？
      你买咗未先？
      nei5 maai5 zo2 mei6 sin1?
      First off, have you even bought it yet?
  6. character
    thing of utmost importance
  7. character
    a surname
  8. character, Cantonese
    Used to emphasize that something is/is not.
    • 我先唔同佢讲。
      我先唔同佢讲。
      ngo5 sin1 m4 tung4 keoi5 gong2.
      There's no way I'm going to tell them. / No, I am not going to tell them. / They are the last person I would tell.
    • 呢啲先系唱歌。
      呢啲先系唱歌。
      ni1 di1 sin1 hai6 coeng3 go1.
      This is true singing.
    • 你先食一碗饭点会够！
      你先食一碗饭点会够！
      nei5 sin1 sik6 jat1 wun2 faan6 dim2 wui5 gau3!
      Eating one bowl isn't enough!
  9. character
    deceased; late
    • 先父
      先父
      xiān fù
      deceased father
  10. character
    ancestor; forefather
    • 祖先
      祖先
      zǔ xiān
      ancestor
  11. character
    first; preceding; prior
    • 先聲
      先声
      xiān shēng
      herald; sign
    • 領先
      领先
      lǐng xiān
      to be in the lead
    • 先兩日
      先两日
      sin1 loeng5 jat6
      day before yesterday; two days ago
  12. character
    ancient
  13. character, obsolete
    ^† originally
  14. character, obsolete
    ^† to guide; to initiate
  15. character, obsolete
    ^† term of address for one's elder brother's wife
  16. character, obsolete
    ^† to surpass
  17. character, obsolete
    ^† to be earlier
  18. character, obsolete
    ^† to introduce
Definitions (Unihan)
  1. first, former, previous
  2. Cangjie Input
    HGHU
Definitions (Kaifangcidian)
  1. 才
  2. 再
Definitions (HSK3.0)
  1. HSK3 一级词汇表 #397
  2. HSK3 一级汉字表 #242
  3. HSK3 初等手写字表 #245
Examples (Tatoeba—Mandarin-English)
  1. Mandarin
    罗杰斯先生和史密斯小姐昨天宣布订婚。
    羅傑斯先生和史密斯小姐昨天宣佈訂婚。
    luó jié sī xiān sheng hé shǐ mì sī xiǎo jie zuó tiān xuān bù dìng hūn 。
    • The engagement of Mr Rogers and Miss Smith was announced yesterday.
    • Mr Rogers and Ms Smith announced their engagement yesterday.
  2. Mandarin
    我认识史密斯先生有好多年了。
    我認識史密斯先生有好多年了。
    wǒ rèn shi shǐ mì sī xiān sheng yǒu hǎo duō nián le 。
    • I've known Mr Smith for many years.
    • I've known Mr. Smith for many years.
  3. Mandarin
    你已经见过史密斯先生了吗？
    你已經見過史密斯先生了嗎？
    nǐ yǐ jīng jiàn guò shǐ mì sī xiān sheng le ma ？
    • Have you already met Mr Smith?
  4. Mandarin
    这位是安田先生。
    這位是安田先生。
    zhè wèi shì ān tián xiān sheng 。
    • This is Mr Yasuda.
  5. Mandarin
    一个从俄勒冈州来的朋友，布朗先生明天会来拜访我们。
    一個從俄勒岡州來的朋友，布朗先生明天會來拜訪我們。
    yí gè cóng é lè gāng zhōu lái de péng you ， bù lǎng xiān sheng míng tiān huì lái bài fǎng wǒ men 。
    • Mr. Brown, a friend from Oregon, will visit us tomorrow.
Examples (Tatoeba—Cantonese-English)
  1. Cantonese
    净系得中国先有大熊猫。
    淨係得中國先有大熊貓。
    zing6 hai6 dak1 zung1 gwok3 sin1 jau5 daai6 hung4 maau1 。
    • Giant pandas live only in China.
  2. Cantonese
    因为你唔够努力，所以先会失败。
    因為你唔夠努力，所以先會失敗。
    jan1 wai6 nei5 m4 gau3 nou5 lik6 ， so2 ji5 sin1 wui2 sat1 baai6 。
    • The reason why you failed is you did not try hard enough.
  3. Cantonese
    如果你想去美国读书，就一定要申请张学生签证先。
    如果你想去美國讀書，就一定要申請張學生簽證先。
    jyu4 gwo2 nei5 soeng2 heoi3 mei5 gwok3 duk6 syu1 ， zau6 jat1 ding6 jiu3 san1 cing2 zoeng1 hok6 saang1 cim1 zing3 sin1 。
    • If you want to study in the United States, you need to get a student visa.
  4. Cantonese
    你应该同你阿爸阿妈倾吓先。
    你應該同你阿爸阿媽傾吓先。
    nei5 jing1 goi1 tung4 nei5 aa3 baa1 aa3 maa1 king1 haa5 sin1 。
    • First of all, you should talk it over with your parents.
  5. Cantonese
    如果我好夜都未返，你就自己瞓先啦，唔使等我。
    如果我好夜都未返，你就自己瞓先啦，唔使等我。
    jyu4 gwo2 ngo5 hou3 je6 dou1 mei6 faan2 ， nei5 zau6 zi6 gei2 fan3 sin1 laa1 ， m4 si2 dang2 ngo5 。
    • If I should be late getting home, please don't wait up for me.
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    俾计划书老细之前，要修正返啲细节先。
    俾計劃書老細之前，要修正返啲細節先。
    bei2 gai3 waak6 syu1 lou5 sai3 zi1 cin4, jiu3 sau1 zing3 faan1 di1 sai3 zit3 sin1.
    • I need to revise the details before giving the proposal to my boss.
  2. Cantonese
    首歌个 file太大喇，可唔可以转咗做 mp3 先俾我？
    首歌個 file太大喇，可唔可以轉咗做 mp3 先俾我？
    sau2 go1 go3 faai1 lou2 taai3 daai6 laa3, ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 zyun3 zo2 zou6 em1 pi1 fi1 sin1 bei2 ngo5?
    • This song's file is too big, can you convert it into mp3 first before sending it to me?
  3. Cantonese
    地产商啱啱先知道游戏规则已经改变咗。
    地產商啱啱先知道遊戲規則已經改變咗。
    dei6 caan2 soeng1 ngaam1 ngaam1 sin1 zi1 dou3 jau4 hei3 kwai1 zak1 ji5 ging1 goi2 bin3 zo2.
    • Just now the real estate developer discovered that the rules had changed.
  4. Cantonese
    我都搞佢唔掂，而家系噉出拖字诀先㗎咋。
    我都搞佢唔掂，而家係噉出拖字訣先㗎咋。
    ngo5 dou1 gaau2 keoi5 m4 dim6, ji4 gaa1 hai6 gam2 ceot1 to1 zi6 kyut3 gaa3 zaa3.
    • I can't deal with him but only keep him waiting.
  5. Cantonese
    你哋要忠心耿耿为国家效力，朕嘅江山先会永垂不朽。
    你哋要忠心耿耿為國家效力，朕嘅江山先會永垂不朽。
    nei5 dei6 jiu3 zung1 sam1 gang2 gang2 wai6 gwok3 gaa1 haau6 lik6, zam6 ge3 gong1 saan1 sin1 wui5 wing3 seoi4 bat1 naau2.
    • You must be dedicated to serving our country, so its sovereignty can perdure.
Examples (None)
  1. Cantonese
    我哋事前评估不足，先导致有咁样嘅情况。
    我哋事前評估不足，先導致有咁樣嘅情況。
  2. Cantonese
    我先前𠮶份工好得闲㗎！
    我先前嗰份工好得閒㗎！
    ngo5 sin1 cin4 go2 fan6 gung1 hou2 dak1 haan4 gaa3!
  3. Cantonese
    吾乃九原吕奉先是也，何人出来与我大战三百回合。
    吾乃九原呂奉先是也，何人出來與我大戰三百回合。
  4. Cantonese
    你煮啲咁好味嘅𩠌畀我食，系咪想储肥我先？
    你煮啲咁好味嘅餸畀我食，係咪想儲肥我先？
    nei5 zyu2 di1 gam3 hou2 sik6 ge3 sung3 bei2 ngo5 sik6, hai6 mai6 soeng2 cou5 fei4 ngo5 sin1?
  5. Cantonese
    马死落地行，真系揾唔到地方住咪训住火车站先啰！
    馬死落地行，真係揾唔到地方住咪訓住火車站先囉！
Examples (Wiktionary)
  1. Mandarin
    先定个小目标赚他一个亿
    先定個小目標賺他一個億
    xiān dìng ge xiǎo mù biāo zhuàn tā yī ge yì
    • first set a small goal: make a hundred million [yuan]
  2. Cantonese
    C：边队band先？A：系𱕌。冇讲到系边队band。
    C：边队band先？A：系𱕌。冇讲到系边队band。
    C: Bin1 deoi6 ben1 sin1?
    A: Hai6 lo1. mou5 gong2 dou3 hai6 bin1 deoi6 ben1.
    • C: So which band?
      A: Indeed, they didn't mention which band.
  3. Cantonese
    有呢张pass先上得车。
    有呢张pass先上得车。
    jau5 ni1 zoeng1 pass sin1 soeng5 dak1 ce1.
    • You can only ride the vehicle if you have this pass.
  4. Cantonese
    唔好去住先。
    唔好去住先。
    m4 hou2 heoi3 zyu6 sin1.
    • (For now) don't go.
  5. Cantonese
    可唔可以借住五十蚊畀我先？
    可唔可以借住五十蚊畀我先？
    ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 ze3 zyu6 ng5 sap6 man1 bei2 ngo5 sin1?
    • Can you lend me $50?