先...然后
First...then
Wörtlich: First... then
Use this phrase to turn a messy list of actions into a clear, professional-sounding sequence.
In 15 Sekunden
- Connects two actions in a clear chronological order.
- Place 'xian' before step one and 'ranhou' before step two.
- Essential for directions, recipes, and daily schedules.
Bedeutung
This is your go-to way to explain a sequence of events. It is like saying 'First I do this, and then I do that' to keep your story or instructions organized.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Planning a morning
我先喝咖啡，然后去工作。
I first drink coffee, then go to work.
Ordering food with a friend
我们先点菜，然后聊天吧。
Let's order food first, then chat.
Giving office instructions
请先复印这份文件，然后给我。
Please photocopy this document first, then give it to me.
Kultureller Hintergrund
While simple, this structure reflects the high-context nature of Chinese communication where clarity in process is valued. It became a staple of modern vernacular (Baihua) to help bridge the gap between complex classical grammar and everyday clear speech.
The Subject Shortcut
If the person doing both actions is the same, you only need to say 'I' (我) once at the very beginning.
Don't Loop 'Ranhou'
If you have more than two steps, use '然后' for the second step, but try '接着' (jiēzhe) for the third to avoid sounding like a robot.
In 15 Sekunden
- Connects two actions in a clear chronological order.
- Place 'xian' before step one and 'ranhou' before step two.
- Essential for directions, recipes, and daily schedules.
What It Means
Think of 先...然后 as the backbone of any plan. It connects two actions in a logical timeline. You use it to tell people your schedule or how to finish a task. It is the verbal equivalent of a numbered list. Without it, your sentences might feel like a jumbled pile of ideas.
How To Use It
The structure is super simple. Put 先 before your first action. Put 然后 before your second action. You can even drop the subject in the second part if it stays the same. For example: 我先吃饭，然后睡觉. It is clean, efficient, and makes you sound very organized. Just don't forget the comma in the middle!
When To Use It
Use it when you are giving directions to a lost tourist. Use it when you are explaining your morning routine to a new friend. It is perfect for recipes or office workflows. If you are texting a friend about meeting up, this phrase keeps things clear. It prevents that awkward 'Wait, what are we doing first?' text exchange.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for things happening at the exact same time. If you are eating while watching TV, this isn't the phrase for you. Also, avoid overusing it in a long chain. If you have five steps, don't say 然后 four times. It starts to sound like a repetitive toddler. Switch to other connectors like 再 or 最后 for variety.
Cultural Background
Chinese culture values logic and clear sequences in instructions. In ancient texts, sequence was often implied by word order alone. Modern Chinese adopted these specific connectors to make speech more precise. It reflects a practical, step-by-step approach to problem-solving. You will hear it constantly in Chinese kitchens and classrooms.
Common Variations
You might hear 先...再 in casual speech. 再 also means 'then,' but it implies the second step depends on the first. 然后 is more of a neutral 'next' in a sequence. In very formal writing, you might see 首先 instead of 先. But for daily life, 先...然后 is your best friend.
Nutzungshinweise
This is a neutral-register collocation. It works in 95% of life situations. The main 'gotcha' is word order: always ensure '先' and '然后' come before the verbs they modify.
The Subject Shortcut
If the person doing both actions is the same, you only need to say 'I' (我) once at the very beginning.
Don't Loop 'Ranhou'
If you have more than two steps, use '然后' for the second step, but try '接着' (jiēzhe) for the third to avoid sounding like a robot.
The Filler Word Secret
Native speakers often use '然后...' as a filler word (like 'um' or 'and then') when they are thinking of what to say next!
Beispiele
6我先喝咖啡，然后去工作。
I first drink coffee, then go to work.
A classic daily routine structure.
我们先点菜，然后聊天吧。
Let's order food first, then chat.
Focuses on the priority of the task.
请先复印这份文件，然后给我。
Please photocopy this document first, then give it to me.
Clear and professional directive.
先看电影，然后吃饭？
Watch a movie first, then eat?
Shortened for quick digital communication.
我先打算运动，然后我睡着了。
I first planned to exercise, then I fell asleep.
Uses the sequence to create a funny contrast.
我们先是朋友，然后成了爱人。
We were friends first, then we became lovers.
Describes a life progression.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sequence of a gym routine.
你___跑步，___举重吗？
The sentence describes a sequence of two activities: running and lifting weights.
Organize the steps of cooking.
___洗菜，___切菜。
Washing vegetables must happen before cutting them, requiring a sequence marker.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of Sequence Markers
Using 'xian...zai' for quick tasks.
先去再说
Standard 'xian...ranhou' for daily life.
我先走，然后你来。
Using 'shouxian...ranhou' in speeches.
首先感谢大家...
Where to use First... Then
Cooking a Meal
先放油，然后放肉。
Travel Directions
先坐地铁，然后走路。
Beauty Routine
先洗脸，然后擦脸。
Work Tasks
先开会，然后写报告。
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes! You can start a sentence with 然后 to mean 'And then...' if the previous context is already understood.
然后 is a general 'next,' while 再 often implies you must finish the first step before the second is possible.
It is perfectly fine, though in very academic papers, you might see 首先 (firstly) and 其次 (secondly) instead.
The subject usually goes before 先, like 我们先去.... However, putting it after 先 is also occasionally heard in casual speech.
Technically yes, but it sounds repetitive. For three steps, try 先...然后...最后 (First... then... finally).
Not exactly. 然后 means 'then.' If you want to say 'After I eat,' you should use ...以后.
It is a very common 'crutch' word. People use it to buy time while thinking, similar to how English speakers use 'and then, like...'
Yes. You can say 我先走了 (I'm leaving first) without needing to specify what happens next.
Not really. This is standard Mandarin used across China, Taiwan, and Singapore.
Forgetting the 先. If you only use 然后, the sentence can feel abrupt or like you're jumping into the middle of a story.
Verwandte Redewendungen
首先 (shǒuxiān) - Firstly
最后 (zuìhòu) - Finally
接着 (jiēzhe) - Next / To follow
再 (zài) - Then / Again (conditional sequence)
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