先后
one after another; successively
Structure
主语 先后 动词 A、B
What it means
One after another; successively: several actions or events happen at different times, in order.
How it is built
Subject + 先后 + verb + several items: 他先后在三家公司工作过 (He has worked at three companies one after another). Or several subjects + 先后 + verb: 两人先后到达.
When to use it
Neutral to formal; common in news and CVs. 陆续 means in a trickle, one by one: 客人陆续到了. 连续 means without a break: 连续三天下雨.
Watch out
先后 needs two or more items or doers: ✗ 他先后去了北京 ✓ 他先后去了北京和上海.
Examples
国家先后实施了“西部大开发”“振兴东北”等战略。
The state carried out “Develop the West”, “Revitalise the Northeast” and other strategies in turn.
他先后在三家公司工作过。
He has worked at three companies one after another.
Learn this in Lesson 52 · HSK 6: 中国经济的版图 (The economic map)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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