Definition

Examples

• 起先他不喜欢这个工作，后来慢慢习惯了。
  qǐ xiān tā bù xǐhuan zhège gōngzuò, hòulái mànmàn xíguàn le.
  At first he didn't like this job, but later he gradually got used to it.
• 起先我以为他会同意，没想到他拒绝了。
  qǐ xiān wǒ yǐwéi tā huì tóngyì, méi xiǎngdào tā jùjué le.
  At first I thought he would agree, but unexpectedly he refused.
• 起先大家都不说话，过了一会儿才开始聊天。
  qǐ xiān dàjiā dōu bù shuōhuà, guò le yíhuìr cái kāishǐ liáotiān.
  At first nobody spoke; after a while they started chatting.