先河 (xiān hé) — forerunner, pioneer; the first of its kind
Definition
先河 refers to the first instance or pioneer of something — always used in the set phrase 开先河 / 开创先河 ('to set a precedent, to be the first of its kind'), not as a standalone noun. It emphasizes being a forerunner that later things follow.
noun
forerunnerpioneerthe first of its kind
Examples
- 先河。Tā de yán jiū kāi chuàng le gāi lǐng yù de xiān hé.His research pioneered the field.
- 先河。Zhè bù xiǎo shuō bèi rèn wéi shì xiàn dài wén xué de xiān hé.This novel is considered the forerunner of modern literature.
- 先河。Zhè xiàng zhèng cè wèi hòu lái de gǎi gé kāi le xiān hé.This policy set a precedent for later reforms.
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