Chinese word

预先

Pronunciation

Pinyinyù xiān

Meaning

  • adverbin advance

Example

我们预先买了票。wǒ men yù xiān mǎi le piào

We bought the tickets in advance.

Illustration for 预先 (in advance)

More examples

请预先准备好材料。qǐng yù xiān zhǔn bèi hǎo cái liào

Please prepare the materials in advance.

Core concept

A planned step is placed before the event it supports, so the later event can proceed smoothly.

Common phrases

  • 预先准备yù xiān zhǔn bèi

    prepare in advance

  • 预先通知yù xiān tōng zhī

    notify in advance

  • 预先安排yù xiān ān pái

    arrange in advance

Similar words

事先shì xiān: Making needed preparations or giving notice before an event or matter takes place.
提前tí qián: Doing something earlier than its scheduled or expected time.

Definition in Chinese

表示基于计划或需要在事情发生之前就采取措施或做好安排的副词，常见于书面语与正式场合。biǎo shì jī yú jì huà huò xū yào zài shì qíng fā shēng zhī qián jiù cái qǔ cuò shī huò zuò hǎo ān pái de fù cí cháng jiàn yú shū miàn yǔ yǔ zhèng shì chǎng hé

Word origin

The compound joins 预 (yù, "prepare beforehand") and 先 (xiān, "first") to express planned action taken before its expected time.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Chinese, this adverb sounds more formal than many everyday alternatives, so it fits announcements, instructions, and other planned arrangements.

Opposites

Word lists with this word