最先 (zuì xiān) — first; at first; initially | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

最先 marks the very first item or earliest stage in a sequence, stronger than 先 alone ('earlier/before'). Use it as an adverb before a verb or at the start of a clause.

adverb

firstat firstinitially

Examples

最先。
Tā zuì xiān lái dào le jiào shì.
He was the first to arrive at the classroom.
，最先。
Zài bǐ sài zhōng, tā zuì xiān chōng guò le zhōng diǎn xiàn.
In the race, she was the first to cross the finish line.
最先。
Wǒ men zuì xiān yào jiě jué de wèn tí shì zī jīn wèn tí.
The first problem we need to solve is the funding issue.

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.

最 (most) and 先 (first) combine as first of all.

Characters in this word

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

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

取

取qǔ最zuì

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape pairs 取, which gives the sound, with a roof-like top from 宀; marks above were later added to separate the “most” meaning.

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

止止zhǐfoot
儿儿érperson

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

Appears in

Time (Abstract)

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