When do I use 先 vs 首先?

Use 先 to show that one action happens before another within the same sentence. Use 首先 to indicate the first item in a list or the first point in an argument. 先 is for temporal sequence; 首先 is for discourse sequence.

Can 首先 be used before a verb?

Yes, 首先 can be placed before a verb to mean 'do something first', but it is less common than 先 in everyday speech. For example, '他首先发言' means 'he spoke first'. However, in such cases it often implies he was the first among a group, not just a simple temporal order.

Is 首先 an adverb or a conjunction?

首先 is classified as an adverb in standard dictionaries (e.g., Modern Chinese Dictionary). It functions as a discourse marker, often introducing a point, which is similar to a conjunction in function, but grammatically it is an adverb.

Can I use 先 and 首先 in the same sentence?

Yes, you can. For example, '首先，你先介绍一下自己' (First of all, you introduce yourself first). Here 首先 frames the discourse, and 先 modifies the verb 介绍 for temporal order.

Easily confusedHSK 3

先 vs 首先 (xiān vs shǒuxiān): first in sequence vs first of all

先 (xiān) is an adverb placed before a verb to indicate doing something before another action. 首先 (shǒuxiān) is a discourse adverb used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to enumerate points or indicate the first step in an argument or list. They are not interchangeable: 先 orders actions within a sentence, while 首先 structures discourse.

The key difference is syntactic and functional. 先 is an adverb that directly modifies the verb, meaning 'first' in terms of sequential order of actions. It is placed immediately before the verb within the same clause. 首先 is a discourse adverb that introduces the first point in a list or argument. It typically appears at the beginning of a sentence or independent clause, separated by a comma. While both can be translated as 'first', 先 focuses on temporal sequence, whereas 首先 focuses on rhetorical sequence.

When to use each

先xiān

first (in sequence)

Use 先 when you want to indicate that one action occurs before another action. It is placed directly before the verb in a clause. For example, '你先走' (nǐ xiān zǒu) means 'you go first' — here 先 modifies the verb 走. It is commonly used in constructions like '先A再B' (first A, then B) or '先A然后B'.

先 can also be used in compound phrases like 首先, but as a standalone it only indicates temporal priority.

首先shǒuxiān

first of all

Use 首先 when enumerating points or steps in a discussion, argument, or list. It typically appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause, often followed by a comma. For example, '首先，我们要做好准备' (first of all, we must prepare). It can also be used within a sentence as an adverb before the verb when it means 'the first (to do something)', as in '他首先发言' (he spoke first). In listing, it is often paired with 其次 (qícì, next) or 然后 (ránhòu, then).

In informal speech, 首先 may be reduced to simply '首先' at the start of a sentence, but it is more formal than 先 in sequential instructions.

At a glance

	先	首先
Position in sentence	Before the verb within the same clause	At the beginning of a sentence or clause (often with comma), or before the verb
Function	Indicates temporal sequence of actions	Indicates first point in a list or rhetorical order
Usage with verbs	Directly modifies the verb, cannot be separated from it	Can be separated from the verb by a comma, or directly modify the verb when meaning 'the first to do'
Typical sentence structure	Subject + 先 + Verb (+ Object)	首先， (Subject) + Verb; or Subject + 首先 + Verb (less common)
Grammatical category	Temporal adverb	Discourse adverb (also classified as adverb in standard references)
Register	Neutral, colloquial and written	Slightly formal, more common in written or planned speech

Examples

先
你先走，我马上来。
Nǐ xiān zǒu, wǒ mǎshàng lái.
You go first; I'll come soon.
Here 先 modifies the verb 走, indicating temporal order.
先
先吃饭，再看电视。
Xiān chīfàn, zài kàn diànshì.
Eat first, then watch TV.
Common structure 先...再... for sequencing two actions.
首先
首先，我要感谢大家的支持。
Shǒuxiān, wǒ yào gǎnxiè dàjiā de zhīchí.
First of all, I want to thank everyone for their support.
首先 introduces a point at the beginning of a sentence.
首先
他首先发言，然后其他人讨论。
Tā shǒuxiān fāyán, ránhòu qítā rén tǎolùn.
He spoke first, and then others discussed.
Here 首先 directly modifies the verb 发言, meaning 'the first to speak'.

Common mistakes

Using 首先 as an adverb between subject and verb to mean 'first do something' (e.g., '我首先吃饭' to mean 'I eat first') — this is unnatural; use 先 instead for simple temporal order.
Using 先 at the beginning of a sentence to enumerate points (e.g., '先，我们要准备...') — use 首先 instead.
Confusing 先 and 首先 in listing sequences: 先 is for actions in a single sentence, 首先 is for broader points across sentences.
Using 首先 in the pattern '首先A然后B' for actions within one sentence — correct structure is '先A然后B'.

FAQ

When do I use 先 vs 首先?: Use 先 to show that one action happens before another within the same sentence. Use 首先 to indicate the first item in a list or the first point in an argument. 先 is for temporal sequence; 首先 is for discourse sequence.
Can 首先 be used before a verb?: Yes, 首先 can be placed before a verb to mean 'do something first', but it is less common than 先 in everyday speech. For example, '他首先发言' means 'he spoke first'. However, in such cases it often implies he was the first among a group, not just a simple temporal order.
Is 首先 an adverb or a conjunction?: 首先 is classified as an adverb in standard dictionaries (e.g., Modern Chinese Dictionary). It functions as a discourse marker, often introducing a point, which is similar to a conjunction in function, but grammatically it is an adverb.
Can I use 先 and 首先 in the same sentence?: Yes, you can. For example, '首先，你先介绍一下自己' (First of all, you introduce yourself first). Here 首先 frames the discourse, and 先 modifies the verb 介绍 for temporal order.