Meaning of 首次
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- first
- first time
- for the first time
How to use 首次
首次 is a formal word common in news, reports and announcements, often placed before a verb or noun. In casual speech people usually say 第一次 (dì yī cì) instead. Example: 这是他首次访问中国。(Zhè shì tā shǒucì fǎngwèn Zhōngguó.) This is his first visit to China.
首 (shǒu) means head, the top or front of something, and 次 (cì) means a time or occurrence. The time at the head of the line is the first time.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 首次 with 首先 (shǒuxiān). 首次 means the first occurrence of an event, while 首先 means first of all when listing steps or points, so do not say 首次，我们要讨论这个问题 when you mean 首先.
首次 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
首 shǒu · head · 9 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
次 cì · next in sequence · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 首次.
| 下次 | xià cì | next time |
| 上次 | shàng cì | last time |
| 首先 | shǒuxiān | first of all; in the first place |
| 首都 | shǒudū | capital (city) |
| 其次 | qícì | next; secondly |
| 多次 | duō cì | many times; repeatedly |
| 再次 | zàicì | once more; once again |
| 层次 | céngcì | layer; level |
| 首相 | shǒuxiàng | prime minister (of Japan or UK etc) |
| 首席 | shǒuxí | seat of honor; chief (representative, correspondent etc) |
| 此次 | cǐ cì | this time |
| 一次性 | yīcìxìng | one-off (offer); one-time |
Questions about 首次
What does 首次 mean?
首次 (shǒucì) means "first; first time".
How do you write 首次?
首次 is made of 2 characters: 首 (9 strokes), 次 (6 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 首次 an HSK word?
Yes. 首次 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 首次 and 第一次?
They mean the same thing, but 首次 sounds formal and written, like something from a headline. 第一次 is neutral and is the normal choice in everyday conversation.
Can 首次 be used in common phrases?
Yes. You will often see it in set phrases such as 首次亮相 (shǒucì liàngxiàng), to make a first appearance, and 首次公开募股 (shǒucì gōngkāi mùgǔ), an IPO. It can also directly modify a noun, as in 首次比赛, the first match.