a polite title for a man or a way to address a male stranger; Mr. or sir

first of all; in the first place; before anything else

technologically sophisticated or highly developed

the order of occurrence; being early or late; the relative timing of events

to be in the lead or in front in a competition, race, or level of development

to be the first to do something or to show initiative in starting an action

to have priority; to take precedence

occurring or done in advance or before a specific event

former or previous; belonging to an earlier state

vanguard; pioneer; avant-garde

to proceed in advance or act beforehand as a priority

before; previously

a person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God in a religious context

(the) very first

inborn, natural, or inherent from birth

ancestors or forebears in a family lineage

to rush to do something urgent or strive to be the first to act

beforehand; in advance

congenital; intrinsic; innate

having existed or happened previously in time; having precedence

the time before a certain date; beforehand

a person who is among the first to explore or develop a new area of knowledge or activity; a trailblazer or precursor; to lead the way

critical opportunity; head start

to be in the starting lineup for a sports team or to be the starting pitcher in baseball

source; precursor; forerunner

a person or thing that precedes and prepares the way for others; a pioneer

at an earlier time or in the past

Li Xiannian (1909-1992), PRC general and politician

at first; in the beginning

striving to be first and fearing to be last; outdoing one another

to be a long way in front or lead by a wide margin

precondition; prerequisite

ancestors or forefathers of a family or ethnic group

Chinese history up to the foundation of the Qin imperial dynasty in 221 BC

to gain the initiative by striking first; to preempt

the right or legal precedence to be served or treated before others

forerunner; pioneer

Young Pioneers of China; abbreviation for [[少年先锋队|少年先鋒隊|Shao4 nian2 Xian1 feng1 dui4]]

to compete to be first or to contest for the lead

(loanword) shilling

omen; sign

people of an older generation or predecessors in a specific field or society

a person who is overly agreeable and avoids conflict by agreeing with everyone

to suffer from a congenital deficiency or have an inherent weakness

to strike first to gain the upper hand

(idiom) to take the lead; to be at the forefront