How to Sequence with 先 and 再 (xiān … zài …)
先…，再… (xiān…, zài…) is the everyday “first…, then…” pattern for putting two actions in order: 先洗手再吃 (“wash your hands first, then eat”). Here 再 means “and then,” not “again.” You can end with 再说 for a “let’s see how it goes” feeling, and chain longer sequences with 然后 and 接着.
Why this trips learners up
To line up two actions in order, Chinese uses 先…，再…, which works just like English “first…, then…”. 先 marks the first action and 再 the next one: 先洗手再吃 (“wash your hands first, then eat”), 你先想清楚再决定 (“think it over first, then decide”). The important thing to notice is that this 再 means “and then,” not its more famous meaning “again.” 先洗手再吃 is “then eat,” never “eat again.”
There is a handy colloquial twist: end the sentence with 再说. 先 + Verb Phrase + 再说 means “do this first, then we’ll see,” with a “let’s see how it goes” feeling. 先吃饭再说 (“let’s eat first, then we’ll figure it out”), 你先试试再说 (“give it a try first, then we’ll see”). Note this 再说 is not the “in addition” 再说 you may have met; here it literally sets up “and then we’ll talk.” It sits at the very end of the sentence.
For a longer series of steps, keep the 先…再… going and bring in two more connectors: 然后 (“and then”) and 接着 (“next / after that”). Varying them makes your Chinese sound natural rather than repetitive: 我先打扫，再洗衣服，接着去买菜，然后做饭 (“I’ll clean first, then do laundry, next go shopping, and after that cook”).
Two small habits to lock in: 先 goes before the first verb (先洗手, not 洗手先), and the “then” here is 再, not 又. 又 is for “again” or “also,” so 先洗手又吃 doesn’t express the sequence; it has to be 先洗手再吃.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
xiān 先 Pattern qiānmíng 签名 Verb zài 再 Pattern zǒu 走 Verb
Sign first, then leave (basic 先…再…).
wǒmen 我们 Subject xiān 先 Pattern diǎn cài 点菜 Verb zài 再 Pattern liáo 聊 Verb
Let’s order first, then chat (先…再… with a subject).
nǐ 你 Subject xiān 先 Pattern xiǎng qīngchu 想清楚 Verb zài 再 Pattern juédìng 决定 Verb
Think it over first, then decide (先…再… for advice).
xiān 先 Pattern bǎ guō rè yíxià 把锅热一下 Verb zài 再 Pattern fàng yóu 放油 Verb
Heat the pan first, then add the oil (先…再… with objects).
wǒmen 我们 Subject xiān 先 Pattern dào le 到了 Verb zài shuō 再说 Pattern
Let’s get there first, then we’ll figure it out (colloquial 先 + VP + 再说).
nǐ 你 Subject xiān 先 Pattern shìshi 试试 Verb zài shuō 再说 Pattern
Give it a try first, then we’ll see (再说, the “let’s see how it goes” feeling).
wǒ 我 Subject xiān 先 Pattern fā yóujiàn 发邮件 Verb ránhòu 然后 Connector gěi tā dǎ diànhuà 给他打电话 Verb
I’ll send the email first, then call him (chaining with 然后).
zhōumò 周末 Time wǒ 我 Subject xiān 先 Pattern dǎsǎo 打扫 Verb zài 再 Pattern xǐ yīfu 洗衣服 Verb jiēzhe 接着 Connector qù mǎi cài 去买菜 Verb ránhòu 然后 Connector zuò fàn 做饭 Verb
On weekends I clean first, then do laundry, next go shopping, and after that cook (先…再…接着…然后…).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: The “then” in this sequence is 再, not 又: 先洗手再吃 (“wash your hands first, then eat”), not 先洗手又吃. 又 means “again / also,” not “next.”
Why it happens: 先 comes before the first verb, not after it: 先洗手 (“first wash your hands”), not 洗手先.
Why it happens: In the colloquial use, 再说 goes at the end of the sentence: 先吃饭再说 (“let’s eat first, then we’ll see”), not 再说先吃饭.
Compare & contrast
| 先…再… (one action, then the next) | 一边…一边… (two actions at the same time) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 先洗手再吃饭xiān xǐ shǒu zài chīfàn | 一边吃饭一边看电视yìbiān chīfàn yìbiān kàn diànshì | 先洗手再吃饭 means “wash your hands first, then eat,” one action after the other. 一边吃饭一边看电视 means “eat while watching TV,” the two happening together. |
| 先做作业再玩xiān zuò zuòyè zài wán | 一边走路一边打电话yìbiān zǒulù yìbiān dǎ diànhuà | 先做作业再玩 means “do homework first, then play.” 一边走路一边打电话 means “walk while talking on the phone.” One is a sequence, the other an overlap. |
Try it yourself
Say “Pay first, then take it.” Use 先 + Verb + 再 + Verb.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Sequence with 先 and 再 (xiān … zài …) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.