优先

• Pinyin: yōu xiān
• Hanzi breakdown: 优 = 亻 + 尤, excellent/superior; 先 = pictograph of a person walking ahead

Meaning

To prioritize; to give priority to. Placing something or someone first in importance or order.

Used in formal and everyday contexts to indicate that something should come first. Common collocations include 优先考虑 (give priority consideration), 优先权 (priority right), and 优先处理 (handle with priority). Can function as both verb and adverb.

Examples

1. 公司招聘时会优先考虑有经验的应聘者。 The company gives priority to experienced applicants when hiring.
2. 这项工作很紧急，必须优先处理。 This task is urgent and must be handled with priority.
3. 老人和孕妇上车时可以优先入座。 Elderly people and pregnant women can board and take seats first.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, policy, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这件事要优先处理。(This matter needs to be handled with priority.)
• 我们应该优先考虑客户的需求。(We should prioritize customer needs.)

Don't Say

• 我优先了他 (Cannot use 优先 as a transitive verb with a person object — say 给他优先权 or 让他优先)

Origin & History

Compound of 优 (excellent, superior) and 先 (first, ahead). Together they mean 'to place first' or 'superior precedence.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal