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How to say “first… then…” in Chinese with 先 (xiān)

先 (xiān)……, 再 (zài)……

Sequencing with "先 (xiān)" and "再 (zài)"

HSK 3Adverbs

Rule structure

先 (xiān)… 再 (zài)… means "first… then…" and is used to describe a sequence of future actions.

Examples

我们先吃饭，再去看电影。

Wǒmen xiān chīfàn, zài qù kàn diànyǐng.

First we'll eat, then we'll go see a movie.

Practice

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Frequently asked questions

How do you express “Sequencing with "先 (xiān)" and "再 (zài)"” in Chinese?

Use the structure: 先 (xiān)……, 再 (zài)……. For example: 我们先吃饭，再去看电影。 — “First we'll eat, then we'll go see a movie.”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

我们先吃饭，再去看电影。 — “First we'll eat, then we'll go see a movie.”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.

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