优先

优先 means 'priority' or 'preference,' indicating something that should be addressed first or given special consideration. It is often used to describe the order of importance in decision-making or action.

The character 优 (yōu) originally meant 'excellent' or 'superior,' and 先 (xiān) means 'before' or 'earlier.' Together, they convey the idea of something being placed before others, emphasizing its importance or precedence.

优先 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, such as in business, daily life, or planning. For example, people might say 优先考虑健康 (yōu xiān kǎo lǜ jiàn kāng) meaning 'prioritize health.' Understanding 优先 helps learners grasp how Chinese speakers express value and urgency in communication.