Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use '先' (first) before the first verb and '然后' (then) or '再' (again/next) before the second verb to show sequence.
- Place {先|xiān} directly before the first verb: {我先吃饭|wǒ xiān chīfàn}.
- Use {然后|ránhòu} or {再|zài} to introduce the second action: {然后去睡觉|ránhòu qù shuìjiào}.
- The subject usually comes before {先|xiān}, but can be omitted if it's the same as the previous clause.
Overview
先과 然后 또는 再라는 다이ナミック한 듀오가 필요합니다...Sequence Structure Table
| Step | Marker | Verb | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
先 (xiān)
|
Verb 1
|
Start
|
|
2
|
然后 (ránhòu)
|
Verb 2
|
Continue
|
|
3
|
再 (zài)
|
Verb 2
|
Next/Repeat
|
|
4
|
最后 (zuìhòu)
|
Verb 3
|
Finish
|
|
5
|
首先 (shǒuxiān)
|
Verb 1
|
Formal Start
|
|
6
|
其次 (qícì)
|
Verb 2
|
Formal Next
|
Common Contractions
| Full | Shortened | Usage |
|---|---|---|
|
先做，然后做
|
先做，再做
|
Casual
|
|
首先，其次
|
先，再
|
Neutral
|
Meanings
These markers establish a clear chronological order between two or more actions, indicating which happens first and which follows.
Sequential Order
Indicating a strict chronological sequence of events.
“{先洗手，再吃饭|xiān xǐshǒu, zài chīfàn}”
“{先买票，然后进站|xiān mǎipiào, ránhòu jìnzhàn}”
Reference Table
| 패턴 | 기능 | 뉘앙스 | 예시 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
先...然后...
|
일반적인 순서 나열
|
일상적인 대화
|
{我先洗澡，然后睡觉。|Wǒ xiān xǐzǎo, ránhòu shuìjiào.}
|
|
先...再...
|
조건부/논리적 순서
|
단호함/미래 계획
|
{先做作业再玩游戏。|Xiān zuò zuòyè zài wán yóuxì.}
|
|
先...然后再...
|
순서 강조
|
매우 명확한 설명
|
{先开会，然后再决定。|Xiān kāihuì, ránhòu zài dēnglù.}
|
|
先...接着...
|
연속되는 동작
|
격식/이야기 서술
|
{先看书，接着写报告。|Xiān kànshū, jiēzhe xiě bàogào.}
|
|
先...最后...
|
단계 마무리
|
구조적인 나열
|
{先去银行，最后回家。|Xiān qù yínháng, zuìhòu huíjiā.}
|
|
你先...
|
정중한 제안
|
친근하고 예의 바름
|
{你先吃吧。|Nǐ xiān chī ba.}
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
首先进餐，随后出发。 (Daily life)
先吃饭，然后走。 (Daily life)
先吃饭，再走。 (Daily life)
先吃，然后溜。 (Daily life)
수준별 예문
{我先喝水，然后吃饭|wǒ xiān hēshuǐ, ránhòu chīfàn}
I first drink water, then eat.
{先看书，再睡觉|xiān kànshū, zài shuìjiào}
First read a book, then sleep.
{先去学校，然后回家|xiān qù xuéxiào, ránhòu huíjiā}
First go to school, then go home.
{先买票，再进去|xiān mǎipiào, zài jìnqù}
First buy a ticket, then go in.
{你先休息一下，然后再做作业|nǐ xiān xiūxi yīxià, ránhòu zài zuò zuòyè}
You rest for a bit first, then do homework.
{我们先去超市，然后去公园|wǒmen xiān qù chāoshì, ránhòu qù gōngyuán}
We first go to the supermarket, then to the park.
{先打开电脑，再登录账号|xiān dǎkāi diànnǎo, zài dēnglù zhànghào}
First open the computer, then log in.
{先洗菜，然后切菜|xiān xǐcài, ránhòu qiēcài}
First wash the vegetables, then cut them.
{先完成这个项目，然后再考虑下一个|xiān wánchéng zhège xiàngmù, ránhòu zài kǎolǜ xià yīgè}
Finish this project first, then consider the next one.
{先了解情况，再做决定|xiān liǎojiě qíngkuàng, zài zuò juédìng}
Understand the situation first, then make a decision.
{先坐地铁，然后换乘公交车|xiān zuò dìtiě, ránhòu huànchéng gōngjiāochē}
First take the subway, then transfer to the bus.
{先别着急，听我解释|xiān bié zhá zháojí, tīng wǒ jiěshì}
Don't worry first, listen to my explanation.
{首先，我们要明确目标；其次，再制定计划|shǒuxiān, wǒmen yào míngquè mùbiāo; qícì, zài zhìdìng jìhuà}
Firstly, we must clarify goals; secondly, then make a plan.
{先不论结果如何，过程本身就很重要|xiān bùlùn jiéguǒ rúhé, guòchéng běnshēn jiù hěn zhòngyào}
Regardless of the result, the process itself is important.
{先解决核心问题，然后再处理细节|xiān jiějué héxīn wèntí, ránhòu zài chǔlǐ xìjié}
Solve the core problem first, then handle the details.
{先入为主的观念往往会影响判断|xiān rù wéi zhǔ de guānniàn wǎngwǎng huì yǐngxiǎng pànduàn}
Preconceived notions often affect judgment.
{先发制人往往能占据主动权|xiān fā zhì rén wǎngwǎng néng zhànjù zhǔdòngquán}
Striking first often allows one to seize the initiative.
{先苦后甜，这是人生的常态|xiān kǔ hòu tián, zhè shì rénshēng de chángtài}
First bitterness, then sweetness; this is the norm of life.
{先不论其可行性，单是创意就值得称赞|xiān bùlùn qí kěxíngxìng, dān shì chuàngyì jiù zhídé chēng zhídé zhù jiù zhídé jiù zhí zhídé chēngzàn}
Setting aside its feasibility, the creativity alone is praiseworthy.
{先贤的智慧，至今仍有借鉴意义|xiānxián de zhìhuì, zhìjīn réng yǒu jièjiàn yìyì}
The wisdom of the sages still has reference value today.
{先礼后兵，这是外交的艺术|xiān lǐ hòu bīng, zhè shì wàijiāo de yìshù}
First courtesy, then force; this is the art of diplomacy.
{先兆往往预示着即将到来的变革|xiānzhào wǎngwǎng yùshìzhe jíjiāng dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dàolái dào lái de biàngé}
Omens often herald the coming change.
{先发优势在互联网行业尤为明显|xiān fā yōushì zài hùliánwǎng hángyè yóuwéi míngxiǎn}
First-mover advantage is particularly evident in the internet industry.
{先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐|xiān tiānxià zhī yōu ér yōu, hòu tiānxià zhī lè ér lè}
Be the first to worry about the world's troubles, and the last to enjoy its pleasures.
혼동하기 쉬운
Both mean 'again', but '再' is for future/sequence, '又' is for past/repetition.
Both mean 'then', but '接着' implies immediate succession.
자주 하는 실수
我吃饭先
我先吃饭
先我吃饭
我先吃饭
先吃饭，再吃饭
先吃饭，然后做作业
我先，然后吃饭
我先吃饭，然后喝水
我先去了，然后吃饭
我先去，然后吃饭
先吃饭，再昨天
先吃饭，然后做作业
先再吃饭
先吃饭
先吃饭，再昨天看了电影
先吃饭，然后看了电影
先不论，再谈
先不论，再讨论
首先，然后
首先，其次
先发制人，然后再发制人
先发制人，后发制于人
先不论其好，再谈其坏
先不论其好坏，再谈其影响
先之，然后之
先做，然后做
문장 패턴
我先___，然后___。
先___，再___，最后___。
先不论___，再谈___。
先___，后___。
Real World Usage
先吃饭，然后聊。
首先介绍一下自己，其次谈谈经验。
先热油，再放入葱姜。
先直走，然后左转。
先点赞，再评论。
先确定需求，然后再开发。
'먼저' 위치 주의보
줄 세우기 끝판왕
중국인의 예절 한 마디
Smart Tips
Use '先...再...然后...最后...' to keep your listener engaged.
Swap '先' for '首先' and '然后' for '其次'.
Use '先' at the very start of the sentence.
Use '然后' instead of '再'.
발음
Tone of 先
First tone (high level). Keep it steady.
Tone of 然后
Second and fourth tones. Rising then falling.
List intonation
先... (pause) 然后... (pause) 最后...
Clear separation of steps.
암기하기
기억법
Think of '先' as a 'Sentry' standing at the door of the first action. '然后' is the 'Road' that connects the first action to the next.
시각적 연상
Imagine a train. The engine is '先'. The carriages are the actions. The tracks connecting them are '然后'.
Rhyme
先 is first, the start of the line, 然后 comes next, everything is fine.
Story
Xiao Ming is hungry. He says, 'I will first (先) wash my hands, then (然后) eat noodles, and finally (最后) drink tea.' He follows this sequence every day.
Word Web
챌린지
Describe your morning routine in 5 steps using '先', '再', and '然后' in under 60 seconds.
문화 노트
Used heavily in formal instructions and daily life.
Similar usage, but '再' is often used more frequently in casual speech.
Often influenced by Cantonese structure, but standard Mandarin follows the same rules.
The character '先' (xiān) originally depicted a foot moving forward, signifying 'before' or 'first'.
대화 시작하기
你今天打算先做什么？
在工作时，你通常先处理什么？
你认为先有鸡还是先有蛋？
如何评价“先苦后甜”的人生观？
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
先 (xiān)을 써야 합니다.先 (xiān)은 동사 뒤가 아니라 반드시 동사 앞에 위치해야 해요.先을, '그다음' 일에는 然后를 붙여야 논리적이에요.Score: /3
연습 문제
8 exercises我___洗澡，然后睡觉。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
我先去了，然后吃饭。
然后 / 睡觉 / 先 / 我 / 洗澡
First buy a ticket, then go in.
Match the start and end.
Use '先', '再', '最后' to describe a day.
Which is formal?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises然后 / 我 / 去学校 / 吃饭 / 先
중국어로 번역해 보세요:
알맞은 짝을 연결하세요:
{___把电脑打开，然后再登录。|___ bǎ diànnǎo dǎkāi, ránhòu zài dēnglù.}
미래의 순서로 올바른 것을 고르세요:
{你喝茶先，我吃饭。|Nǐ hēchá xiān, wǒ chīfàn.}
중국어로 번역해 보세요:
{我们先去看电影，___去喝奶茶。|Wǒmen xiān qù kàn diànyǐng, ___ qù hē nǎichá.}
去旅游 / 先 / 拍视频 / 然后
'당신이 먼저 가세요'는 중국어로?
Score: /10
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
Yes, but it sounds like you are just starting a list. It's better to pair it.
Mostly yes. It implies a sequence that is yet to happen or is continuing.
Yes, '然后' is very flexible and works for past, present, and future.
'接着' means 'immediately after', while '然后' is just 'then'.
Usually no, it's an adverb for verbs. Use '首先' for nouns/topics.
It's the formal version of '先', used to structure arguments.
No, use '又' for repetition. '再' is for sequence.
Use '最后' (zuìhòu).
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Primero... luego...
Spanish verbs conjugate, Chinese verbs do not.
D'abord... ensuite...
French requires agreement in gender/number.
Zuerst... dann...
German syntax is much more rigid regarding verb placement.
まず...次に...
Japanese particles (wa/ga) are required, which Chinese lacks.
أولاً... ثم...
Arabic is written right-to-left and has gendered verbs.
先...然后...
No inflection, purely positional.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
관련 동영상
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