首先 shǒu xiān
“first (of all); in the first place”
adverb, conjunctionHSK 4 · 2021 list level 3
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
首先 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 1683: 首先 shǒuxiān — Level 4; official annotation 4 (副、代). PDF page 122
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 首先
首先 means "first of all" and is used to introduce the first point, step, or reason in a list or explanation. It often comes at the beginning of a sentence, usually followed by a comma, and is commonly paired later with 然后, 接着, or 其次.
例句Example sentences
- 首先，请大家打开书。shǒu xiān, qǐng dà jiā dǎ kāi shū.First of all, everyone please open your books.
- 我们首先要弄清楚这个问题。wǒ men shǒu xiān yào nòng qīng chu zhè ge wèn tí.We first need to understand this problem clearly.
- 做饭首先要洗手。zuò fàn shǒu xiān yào xǐ shǒu.When cooking, first you need to wash your hands.