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xiān
Main
English Definitionearly; prior; former; in advance; first
Simplified Script
Traditional ScriptSame
Pinyinxiān
Effective Pinyin
(After Tone Sandhi)
Same
Zhuyin (Bopomofo) ㄒㄧㄢ
Cantonese (Jyutping)sin1
Part of Speech(副) adverb
Proficiency Test LevelHSK.v3=1 TOCFL=2

Related Words

Words With Same Head Word    
先进xiānjìnadvanced (technology); to advance
先后xiānhòuearly or late; priority; in succession; one after another
先天xiāntiāninborn; innate; natural
先驱xiānqūpioneer
先生xiānshengteacher; husband; doctor (dialect); Mister (Mr.)
Words With Same Tail Word    
祖先zǔxiānancestor; forebears
首先shǒuxiānfirst (of all); in the first place
领先lǐngxiānto lead; to be in front
事先shìxiānin advance; before the event; beforehand; prior
原先yuánxiānoriginally; original; former
Derived Words or Phrases    
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Chinese characters or pinyin syllables