先后

• Pinyin: xiān hòu
• Hanzi breakdown: 先 = 止 (stop) + 儿 (legs) — to go before; 后 = 彳 (step) + 幺 (small) + 夂 — behind

Meaning

One after another; successively; priority order. The sequence of events or the relative importance of things.

As a noun, indicates priority or sequence. As an adverb, means 'successively' or 'one after another.' Used to describe multiple events happening in sequence: 先后发生 (happened one after another), 不分先后 (regardless of order).

Examples

1. 他先后去过十多个国家旅游。 He has traveled to more than ten countries successively.
2. 这件事的处理要分清先后顺序。 The handling of this matter requires clear prioritization.
3. 两队队员先后到达了终点。 Players from both teams reached the finish line one after another.

Usage Guide

Context: sequence, organization, narrative

Tone: orderly

Do Say

• 做事要分清先后。(You need to prioritize when doing things.)
• 他们先后到达。(They arrived one after another.)

Don't Say

• 说'先后同时'表示同时发生 (Don't combine 先后 with 同时 — they contradict each other; 先后 implies sequence, 同时 implies simultaneity)

Origin & History

先 (first, before) + 后 (after, behind). Together indicating temporal or priority sequence.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal