Chinese phrase
可以先〜吗？ ké yǐ xiān 〜 ma
Meaning
Can I ___ first?
When to use it
Asks whether something can be done first. It is a polite way to request doing one thing before another activity or task.
Example dialogue
我 可以先 去洗手间 吗？ wǒ ké yǐ xiān qù xí shǒu jiān ma
Can I go to the restroom first?
当然可以，你快去吧。 dāng rán ké yǐ nǐ kuài qù ba
Of course, go ahead.