起先 (qǐ xiān) — at first; initially
Definition
An adverb meaning 'at first / initially,' used to contrast an earlier state with what followed (often paired with 后来 or 才). It frames the start of a sequence or change in a narrative.
adverb
at firstinitially
Examples
- 起先，。qǐ xiān Tā bù xǐ huan zhè ge gōng zuò, hòu lái màn màn xí guàn le.At first he didn't like this job, but later he gradually got used to it.
- 起先，。qǐ xiān Wǒ yǐ wéi tā huì tóng yì, méi xiǎng dào tā jù jué le.At first I thought he would agree, but unexpectedly he refused.
- 起先，。qǐ xiān Dà jiā dōu bù shuō huà, guò le yí huì r cái kāi shǐ liáo tiān.At first nobody spoke; after a while they started chatting.
Appears in
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