先

Denotes precedence across three primary categories:

• Chronological sequence (earlier, beforehand).
• Physical position (leading the way; being first as a result of movement).
• Lineage and veneration: used to refer to ancestors (e.g., 先人, 先祖), carrying a connotation of respect beyond simple temporal priority.

• Adverbial: Marks the beginning of a procedure or logical progression, often establishing a prerequisite for subsequent actions.
• Attributive: Modifies a noun to indicate a former state or previous identity ("the former").
• Verbal: To precede, go before, or anticipate.

In early texts, a distinction is often maintained between 先 (primarily chronological precedence) and 前 (primarily spatial precedence).

Tang-period reading: *sen sen. Fanqie readings: 蘇前, 蘇佃.

Distinguish between simple numerical order (e.g., #1 in a list) and priority. The glyph frequently implies that the first action is a necessary condition for what follows rather than merely being first in a sequence.