Definition
抢先 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to try to be the first (to do something)' or 'to get ahead of others'. The verb 抢 can separate from 先 when inserting aspect markers (了, 过) or other complements, e.g. 抢在了…前 ('get ahead of…'), 抢了一次先 ('got to be first once'). The object 先 can also be modified with words like 一步 ('one step'), e.g. 抢先一步 ('take a step ahead').
v.o.
to try to be the first (to do something)to get ahead of others
Examples
- 抢先。Tā qiǎng xiān huídá le lǎoshī de wèntí.He was the first to answer the teacher's question.
- 。Zhè cì jīhuì bèi biérén qiǎng le xiān.Someone else snatched this opportunity first.
- 抢先。Tā qiǎng zài suǒyǒu rén qiánmiàn qiǎng xiān fābiǎo le yìjiàn.He got ahead of everyone and was the first to express his opinion.
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