V+先

Do It First

Level 2Sounds Like sin1

Unlike Mandarin or Standard Written Chinese where 'first' comes before the verb, spoken Cantonese places 先 (sin1) AFTER the verb phrase (Verb + Object + 先).

How It Works

In spoken Cantonese, the particle 先 (sin1, Tone 1) is placed postverbally to express chronological sequence ('do something first') or provisional action ('for now').

1. Placement Rules
Unlike Mandarin or formal written Chinese, postverbal placement is a defining feature of spoken Cantonese:

  • Simple Verb + 先: 行先 (haang4 sin1) – Go first.
  • Verb + Object + 先: 食飯先 (sik6 faan6 sin1) – Eat first.
  • Verb + 埋 + 先: 講埋先 (gong2 maai4 sin1) – Finish speaking first.

If sentence-final particles like 啦 (laa1) or 喇 (laa3) are present, 先 comes immediately before them (e.g., 你行先啦 nei5 haang4 sin1 laa1).

2. Core Functions & Pragmatic Nuances

  • Chronological Priority: Indicating an action to perform before another (e.g., 食飯先，食完再傾 sik6 faan6 sin1, sik6 jyun4 zoi3 king1).
  • Provisional / Temporary Action: Doing something 'for the time being', often paired with the durative aspect marker 住 (zyu6) as in 食住先 (sik6 zyu6 sin1 – eat for now).
  • Polite Departure / Softened Imperative: Softening requests or taking leave politely (e.g., 我走先 ngo5 zau2 sin1 – I'll head out first / bye for now).
  • Discourse Prompt in Questions: Used in questions to establish baseline conditions first (e.g., 你識唔識做先？ nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 zou6 sin1? – First of all, do you know how to do it?).

3. Preverbal vs Postverbal Distinction
While postverbal V + 先 is standard in casual conversation, Cantonese can use preverbal 先 in paired explicit sequence markers like 先...再... (sin1... zoi3... = first..., then...) or in formal registers.

Examples (5)

  1. 你行先啦。

    You go ahead first.

    Word by Word: You go first [particle].

    行 (haang4) is the verb 'go/walk', followed by 先 (sin1) 'first', and softened by the particle 啦 (laa1).

  2. 我哋食飯先，食完再傾。

    Let's eat first, then talk after we finish.

    Word by Word: We eat rice first, eat finish then talk.

    先 (sin1) attaches after the verb-object phrase 食飯 (sik6 faan6) to indicate eating comes before talking.

  3. 等我講埋先。

    Let me finish speaking first.

    Word by Word: Wait me speak finish first.

    Combines the particle 埋 (maai4, finish up) with 先 (sin1) to say 'finish speaking first'.

  4. 你飲杯水先啦。

    Drink a glass of water first.

    Word by Word: You drink cup water first [particle].

    Notice that 先 (sin1) comes after the complete object 杯水 (bui1 seoi2, cup of water), not immediately after the verb 飲 (jam2).

  5. 你識唔識做先？

    First of all, do you know how to do it?

    Word by Word: You know not know do first?

    Here, 先 (sin1) acts as a discourse particle establishing the baseline condition before proceeding.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting 先 before the verb when you want to say ‘do it first’.

    Different Meaning我先走
    我走先

    In everyday Cantonese, 先 (sin1) usually comes after the verb to mean ‘first’: 我走先. 我先走 is not wrong and you will hear it, but the postverbal order is the more natural way to say ‘I will go first’. Before a verb, 先 can also mean ‘only then’.

  • Placing 先 between the verb and its direct object.

    我哋食先飯
    我哋食飯先

    先 (sin1) attaches after the ENTIRE verb phrase (Verb + Direct Object), not directly after the verb root when an object is present.

How It Connects

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V+先Level 2Do It First

Learn This First

To understand 'V+先', you need to be comfortable with basic Cantonese word order, specifically the fact that certain adverbs and particles follow the verb rather than preceding it. Familiarity with how verbs function in simple sentences will help you correctly place '先' to indicate doing an action first.

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