先

先 [xiān] 名

1. ■ （时间或次序在前的） earlier; before; first; in advance:

有言在先 make clear beforehand;

争先恐后 strive to be the first and fear to lag behind;

你不必先付款。 You don't have to pay in advance.

你先拟个提纲再写。 Make an outline before you start writing.

他比我先到。 He arrived earlier than I did.; He arrived there before me.

他在班上遥遥领先。 He is far in advance of his class.

同志们先别走。 Don't go yet, comrades.

我先说几句。 Let me say a few words first.

先做学生，再做先生。 Be a pupil before you become a teacher.

2. ■ （祖先; 上代） elder generation; ancestor:

祖先 ancestor: forefather

3. ■ （尊称死去的人） deceased; late:

先父 my late father

4. ■ [口] （先前） earlier on; before:

你先怎么不告诉我? Why didn't you tell me before?

5. ■ （姓氏） a surname:

先轸 Xian Zhen