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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.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

起qǐbegin
先xiānfirst

'起' (begin) and '先' (first) point to the earliest stage, meaning initially.

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
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

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

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

Open 先 →
Appears in
Time (Abstract)

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