我先去了商场
first, before something else
Structure
主语 + 先 + 动词
What it means
先 says you do this first, before the rest: 你先吃 (you start, and I’ll come later).
How it is built
Subject + 先 + verb: 我们先喝茶，一会儿去吃饭 (let’s have tea first and go and eat in a bit).
When to use it
When you leave before others, say 我先走了: “I’m off now.” 回到家，我先洗手 = the first thing I do at home is wash my hands.
Watch out
✗ 我喝茶先。 ✓ 我先喝茶。 English often puts “first” at the end, but 先 always goes after the subject, right before the verb.
Examples
你先吃，我马上来。
You start eating; I’ll be right there.
我们先喝茶，一会儿去吃饭。
Let’s have some tea first and go and eat in a bit.
回到家，我先洗手。
When I get home, the first thing I do is wash my hands.
Learn this in HSK 1 · Lesson 17: 星期天你做什么了 (What did you do?)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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