先河 (xiān hé) — forerunner, pioneer; the first of its kind

Definition

先河 refers to the first instance or pioneer of something — always used in the set phrase 开先河 / 开创先河 ('to set a precedent, to be the first of its kind'), not as a standalone noun. It emphasizes being a forerunner that later things follow.

noun

forerunnerpioneerthe first of its kind

Examples

先河。
Tā de yán jiū kāi chuàng le gāi lǐng yù de xiān hé.
His research pioneered the field.
先河。
Zhè bù xiǎo shuō bèi rèn wéi shì xiàn dài wén xué de xiān hé.
This novel is considered the forerunner of modern literature.
先河。
Zhè xiàng zhèng cè wèi hòu lái de gǎi gé kāi le xiān hé.
This policy set a precedent for later reforms.

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