Discussion of 首先 [shǒu xiān] first, before all others; first of all, in the first place

Discussion of 首先

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Why are there multiple words for first?

Shīya3

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首先 vs 先

1. 首先 can be used as a conjunction at the beginning of a sentence:
E.g. 首先，我们做个计划。First of all, let's make a plan.
When 首先 is an adverb it appears after the subject before the verb:
E.g. 我们首先发言。We deliver the speech first (before all others).

2. 先 when it is an adverb meaning "first, before"cannot appear at the beginning of a sentence. E.g. 我们先发言。

3. 先 has a whole bunch of other meanings that 首先 does not have.

lisaC

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