首先

• Pinyin: shǒu xiān
• Hanzi breakdown: 首 = pictograph of a head; 先 = 止 (foot) + 儿 (person), meaning to go before others

Meaning

First; first of all; in the first place. Used to introduce the first point in a sequence or argument.

A very common discourse marker for ordering ideas. Often paired with 其次 (secondly) and 最后 (finally). Used in both spoken and written Chinese for structured argumentation or step-by-step instructions.

Examples

1. 首先，我想感谢大家的支持。 First of all, I want to thank everyone for their support.
2. 学习一门语言，首先要多听多说。 When learning a language, the first thing is to listen and speak more.
3. 首先我们去超市，然后去看电影。 First we go to the supermarket, then we go to see a film.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, academic, speeches

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 首先，请大家安静一下。(First of all, please be quiet for a moment.)
• 首先要了解问题，然后才能解决。(First you need to understand the problem, then you can solve it.)

Don't Say

• 我首先吃了一个苹果。(Don't use 首先 to simply mean 'at first' in a narrative — use 先 instead. 首先 is for introducing the first of several ordered points.)

Origin & History

首 (head/first) + 先 (before/earlier). Both characters convey the idea of being first or foremost.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal