先睹为快 (xiān dǔ wèi kuài) — to consider it a pleasure to be among the first to read or see something

Definition

A literary chengyu meaning to be delighted to see or read something before others. Use it when you want to express excitement about getting early access to a book, film, or article.

idiom
to consider it a pleasure to be among the first to read or see something

Examples

  • ，先睹为快。
    Xīn shū yí shàng shì, wǒ jiù mǎi lái xiān dǔ wèi kuài.
    As soon as the new book came out, I bought it to be among the first to read it.
  • ，先睹为快。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng wǒ qī dài hěn jiǔ le, jīn tiān zhōng yú kě yǐ xiān dǔ wèi kuài le.
    I've been looking forward to this movie for a long time. Today I can finally see it first.
  • ，先睹为快。
    Biān jí bǎ zuì xīn de wén zhāng fā gěi wǒ, ràng wǒ xiān dǔ wèi kuài.
    The editor sent me the latest article, allowing me to be among the first to read it.

Origin

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.

Open 先 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
目目mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě睹dǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

睹 pairs 目 (eye), related to seeing, with 者 as a part hinting at the sound.

Open 睹 →

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.

Open 为 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
夬
夬guài快kuài
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

快 pairs the left part 忄 (full form 心, the heart) with the right part 夬, which gives the sound.

Open 快 →

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