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其次 (qí cì) — next (in order); secondly

Definition

其次 means 'next' or 'secondly' in a list or ranking, almost always paired with 首先. Unlike the looser 下面 (which just introduces 'the following' content), 其次 explicitly marks the second item in a sequence.

pronoun
next (in order)secondly

Examples

  • ，，其次，。
    Shǒu xiān, nǐ yào zuò hǎo jì huà, qí cì, zài kāi shǐ xíng dòng.
    First, you need to make a good plan; next, start acting.
  • ，其次。
    Wǒ xǐ huan chī shuǐ guǒ, qí cì shì píng guǒ hé xiāng jiāo.
    I like eating fruits; next are apples and bananas.
  • ，其次。
    Wǒ men bān xiǎo míng chéng jì zuì hǎo, qí cì shì xiǎo hóng.
    In our class, Xiao Ming has the best grades; next is Xiao Hong.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

其qíthat
次cìnext

其 points to the item already mentioned and 次 to the following order, giving next in sequence.

Characters in this word

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

The modern form 其 comes from an early drawing of a basket, with a stand added underneath.

Open 其 →

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

The old form of 次 shows a person exhaling, with the marks above the figure representing breath.

Open 次 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Order & Arrangement

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