Grammar Point:
The grammar structure 先 xiān…再 zài… in Chinese is used to express a sequence of actions or events, indicating that one action or event happens before another.
- 先 xiān: This means “first” or “before.” It indicates that the action or event following it should happen first in the sequence.
- 再 zài: This means “then” or “next.” It indicates that the action or event following it happens after the action or event mentioned before 先 xiān.
Structure
(S) 先 VO,(S) 再 VO
Remember to place the subject before 再 zài, and when the two subjects are the same, you can drop the second one.
先洗手,再吃飯先洗手,再吃饭
Wash your hands first, then eat.
先脫鞋,再進來先脱鞋,再进来
Take off your shoes first, then come in.
客人先付錢,再吃飯客人先付钱,再吃饭
The guests should pay first, then eat.
你應該先學一點中文,再來台灣旅遊你应该先学点儿汉语,再来台湾旅游
You should learn some Chinese first before coming to travel in Taiwan.
我晚上先回家吃飯,再去電影院見你我晚上先回家吃饭,再去电影院见你
I’ll go home and have dinner first in the evening, then go to the cinema to meet you.
老師先說一次,學生再說一次老师先说一次,学生再说一次
The teacher says it first, then the students say it again.
爸爸先給哥哥10塊錢,哥哥再給弟弟1塊錢爸爸先给哥哥10块钱,哥哥再给弟弟1块钱
Dad gives 10 yuan to the older brother first, then the older brother gives 1 yuan to the younger brother.
他們是先上車再補票他们是先上车再补票
They board the vehicle first and then purchase the ticket.
OR They had a shotgun wedding.
FYI
Instead of saying 先上车再补票 xiān shàngchē zài bǔpiào, Chinese actually has a phrase 先上车后补票 xiān shàngchē hòu bǔpiào which is used metaphorically to describe a situation where a couple has children or becomes pregnant before getting married, and then decides to get married afterward due to factors such as moral responsibility, societal pressure, or saving face.
Other way to express the order
1st, 2nd, 3ed
第一、第二、第三第一,第二,第三
First of all
首先首先
Next
接下來、再來、接著接下来,再来,接着
And then
然後、再然后,再
Finally
最後最后
我們明天早上先去買禮物,然後去奶奶家一起吃飯,接著和奶奶去公園散步,再去超市買菜,最後回家我们明天早上先去买礼物,然后去奶奶家一起吃饭,接着和奶奶去公园散步,再去超市买菜,最后回家
We’ll first go buy gifts tomorrow morning, then go to grandma’s house to have a meal together. Next, we go for a walk in the park with grandma, then go to the supermarket to buy groceries, and finally go back home.
台灣有三個有名的食物。第一是珍珠奶茶。第二是牛肉麵。第三是臭豆腐。台湾有三个有名的食物。第一是珍珠奶茶。第二是牛肉面。第三是臭豆腐。
In Taiwan, there are three famous foods. The first one is bubble milk tea. The second one is beef noodles. The third one is stinky tofu.
Practice
TouchHover over the space to see the answers.
✔️ I eat first, you eat later.
我先吃,你再吃我先吃,你再吃
✔️ My sister wants to watch TV before she does her homework.
妹妹想先看電視再寫功課妹妹想先看电视再写功课
✔️ You say Chinese is easy 10 times first, then I will teach you Chinese.
你先說十次中文很簡單,我再教你中文你先说十次中文很简单,我再教你中文