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March 24, 2026
事先shìxiān(shi4xian1)
事先 (shìxiān) means 'in advance' or 'beforehand,' indicating something that occurs prior to a specific event or action. It is commonly used in contexts such as planning, notifications, and preparations where advance notice is essential.
Strokes14Frequency#3803DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, planning ahead is highly valued, often seen in business and social settings where advance notice is expected for events or meetings. This reflects the cultural emphasis on order and respect for others' time.
Memory Tip
Think of 事 (shì) as a 'matter' or 'affair' and 先 (xiān) meaning 'before.' Picture a person organizing matters before a big event, ensuring everything is in order ahead of time. The '事' looks like a person standing with arms raised, preparing for something important, while '先' suggests the idea of leading or going ahead.
Meanings of 事先
shìxiān(shi4xian1)
1in advance
2before the event
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 事先
事先Simplified
14Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#3803Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 事先
Podcast: 事先
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AI Study Notes for 事先
Quick Contrast
预先 (yùxiān) - use 事先 when emphasizing the timing before a specific event; use 预先 for a broader sense of advance preparation.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 事先 with 之前 (zhīqián), which also means 'before.' 事先 is more about proactive planning, while 之前 is more general. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, often paired with verbs like 通知 (tōngzhī - to inform) or 准备 (zhǔnbèi - to prepare).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 事先 can be connected to other words related to time and planning, such as 提前 (tíqián - to advance, do in advance) and 计划 (jìhuà - plan). Focus on how it can be used in sentences to express the importance of timing in actions.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using 事先 in contexts where 之前 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我事先去过那里' (I went there in advance) should be corrected to '我之前去过那里' (I went there before).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 事先
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How Well Do You Know 事先?
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事先 (shìxiān) means 'in advance' or 'beforehand,' indicating something that occurs prior to a specific event or action. It is commonly used in contexts such as planning, notifications, and preparations where advance notice is essential.
When to use 事先
Learners often confuse 事先 with 之前 (zhīqián), which also means 'before.' 事先 is more about proactive planning, while 之前 is more general. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, often paired with verbs like 通知 (tōngzhī - to inform) or 准备 (zhǔnbèi - to prepare).
事先 or something close to it
预先 (yùxiān) - use 事先 when emphasizing the timing before a specific event; use 预先 for a broader sense of advance preparation.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is using 事先 in contexts where 之前 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我事先去过那里' (I went there in advance) should be corrected to '我之前去过那里' (I went there before).
Write 事先
事
先
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Grammar Patterns of 事先
事先 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这可不是头脑一热作出的决定。我们____仔细地讨论过。
It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. We discussed it in detail beforehand.
Example Sentences for 事先 (9)
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1
这可不是头脑一热作出的决定。我们事先仔细地讨论过。
zhè kě bù shì tóu nǎo yī rè zuò chū de jué dìng。 。 wǒ mén shì xiān zī xì dì tǎo lùn。
It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. We discussed it in detail beforehand.
2
他已事先写好了答案。
tā yǐ shì xiān xiě hǎo le dá àn。
He had prepared scripted answers.
3
他们从事先准备好讲稿的演说转向一问一答的形式.
tā mén cóng shì xiān zhǔn bèi hǎo jiǎng gǎo de yǎn shuō zhuǎn xiàng yī wèn yī dá de xíng shì.
They switched from set speeches to a question - and - answer format.
4
她怎么会事先知道我要出去？
tā zěn mó huì shì xiān zhī dào wǒ yào chū qù？
How could she tell beforehand that I was going to go out?
