先有 A，后有 B
first came A, then B; A came first and B grew out of it
Structure
先有 较早的事物 ， 后有 由它而来的事物
What it means
Says which came first and implies the second grew up around or out of the first. Used for origins and to make a point about cause.
How it is built
先有 + short noun phrase，后有 + short noun phrase, the halves kept about the same length: 先有需求，后有市场 (first the demand, then the market).
When to use it
Local sayings, essays and journalism about origins or cause. 才有 can replace 后有 to stress that B depends on A: 先有国，才有家. The riddle 先有鸡还是先有蛋 uses the same frame.
Watch out
Not for the steps of a procedure; use 先…再… there. ✗先有洗手，后有吃饭 ✓先洗手再吃饭. Each half is 有 + a noun phrase.
Examples
当地到今天还流传着“先有天后宫，后有天津卫”的说法。
People there still say: “First came the Tianhou temple, then came Tianjin.”
这个小镇先有码头，后有商店和街道，老街至今还沿着河岸延伸。
The town had its quay first and its shops and streets later, and the old street still runs along the riverbank.
很多传统节日都是先有民间习俗，后有官方的认可。
Many traditional festivals began as folk customs and only later won official recognition.
Learn this in Lesson 245 · HSK 9+: 妈祖 (Mazu, goddess of the sea)
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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