HSK 3 grammar · new HSK syllabus
先…再 / 然后…: first… then…
先 A 再 B or 先 A 然后 B: first do A, then B.
Structure
- 先 + A，再 / 然后 + B
How it works
先 marks the first action; 再 or 然后 marks what comes next: 我们先吃饭，再去看电影.
再 goes before a verb and is used for plans and instructions. 然后 starts a clause and can be followed by a subject.
Examples
-
我们先吃饭，再去看电影。
Wǒmen xiān chī fàn, zài qù kàn diànyǐng.
Let’s eat first, then see a film.
-
你先洗手，然后吃饭。
Nǐ xiān xǐ shǒu, ránhòu chī fàn.
Wash your hands first, then eat.
-
先往前走，然后往右走。
Xiān wǎng qián zǒu, ránhòu wǎng yòu zǒu.
Go straight first, then turn right.
-
我先回家，然后去找你。
Wǒ xiān huí jiā, ránhòu qù zhǎo nǐ.
I’ll go home first, then come and find you.
-
先想好，再回答。
Xiān xiǎng hǎo, zài huídá.
Think it through first, then answer.
Words in these examples (23)
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 先 | xiān | first; before | HSK 3 |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | HSK 1 |
| 饭 | fàn | meal; cooked rice | HSK 1 |
| 再 | zài | again | HSK 1 |
| 去 | qù | to go | HSK 1 |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | HSK 1 |
| 电影 | diànyǐng | film; movie | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 洗 | xǐ | to wash | HSK 2 |
| 手 | shǒu | hand | HSK 2 |
| 然后 | ránhòu | then; after that | HSK 3 |
| 往 | wǎng | toward | HSK 2 |
| 前 | qián | in front; before; ago | HSK 1 |
| 走 | zǒu | to walk; to leave | HSK 2 |
| 右 | yòu | right (side) | HSK 2 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 回 | huí | to return; to go back | HSK 1 |
| 家 | jiā | home; family; (measure word for shops and companies) | HSK 1 |
| 找 | zhǎo | to look for; to find | HSK 1 |
| 想 | xiǎng | to want to; to think; to miss | HSK 1 |
| 好 | hǎo | good; well | HSK 1 |
| 回答 | huídá | to answer; answer | HSK 3 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我们吃饭先，再去。
✓我们先吃饭，再去。
先 goes before the verb.
-
✗先吃饭，再我们去看电影。
✓先吃饭，然后我们去看电影。
A subject can follow 然后, not 再.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 你 休息一下，再工作吧。
2. 我们先去超市， 回家。
3. 先复习， 做练习。