先入为主 (xiān rù wéi zhǔ) — first impressions are strongest; preconceived n…

Definition

A chengyu meaning a first impression sticks and biases later judgments. Often used as a warning, e.g. 不能先入为主 ("don't jump to conclusions").

idiom

first impressions are strongestpreconceived notions take hold

先入为主，。
Yīn wèi xiān rù wéi zhǔ, hòu lái zài jiě shì yě hěn nán gǎi biàn tā de kàn fǎ.
Because first impressions are strongest, it's hard to change his opinion even with later explanations.
先入为主，。
Miàn shì shí kǎo guān wǎng wǎng xiān rù wéi zhǔ, suǒ yǐ yào gěi rén jiā liú xià hǎo yìn xiàng.
Interviewers often go by first impressions, so you need to make a good one.
先入为主，。
Gǔ shì fēn xī bù néng xiān rù wéi zhǔ, bì xū quán miàn kǎo chá shù jù.
Stock market analysis cannot rely on first impressions; you must examine the data comprehensively.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

先入entering first

偏正Modifier + head

为主becoming dominant

为wèibecome主zhǔprincipal

动宾Verb + object

'先入' (entering first) and '为主' (becoming dominant) combine to suggest early impressions take hold.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

先 combines 止 (foot) and 儿 (person) to show someone moving forward.

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

入 is drawn as an arrowhead, indicating 'to enter'.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Appears in