先 … ，再 … (first …, then …)
First this, then that
- Two actions, in order: do A first, then B.
- Frame them with early先 … again / then再 … ("first …, then …").
- The trap: here again / then再 means "then," not its usual "again."
Practice
先 … 再 … expresses …
Here 再 = “then” (next step), not “again.”
early先 + Verb 1 ，again / then再 + Verb 2
first先wash hands洗手then，再eat吃。
- early先to wash one's hands洗手，again / then再variant of 吃吃 = "Wash your hands first, then eat."
- Two stepping stones: step on early先, then again / then再.
Practice
Complete: 先洗手,____ 吃。(Wash your hands first, then eat.)
先 + V1 ，再 + V2 — 先洗手,再吃.
Practice
Build: “Do your homework first, then watch TV.”
先 + V1 ，再 + V2: 先 + 做作业 + 再 + 看电视.
Watch out
Watch out
In early先…again / then再…, again / then再 = "(and) then," not "again." For longer chains, add then / after然后 ("and then") and to catch and hold on接着 ("next").
Explore
Correct or broken?
先 A，再 B lines up two actions in order — 先 opens, 再 answers.
Practice
In 先 … 再 …, 再 means “again.”
In this pair 再 = “then,” the next step in a sequence.
Recap
Key idea
- early先 + Verb 1 ，again / then再 + Verb 2 — first …, then …
- This again / then再 = "then" (in a sequence), not "again"
- Chain longer runs with then / after然后 / to catch and hold on接着
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Adverbs.