Definition
在先 is a fixed phrase meaning 'previously' or 'ahead of time', commonly used as an adverbial in formal or legal contexts. It is labeled as a verb-object (v.o.) in the source data, but in modern usage it rarely functions as a separable verb; it behaves more like a time adverb. For example: 在先申请 ('prior application').
v.o.
formerlyin the pastbeforein frontahead
Examples
- 在先。Zhège jìshù fāng'àn qūbié yú zài xiān shēnqǐng.This technical solution is different from the prior application.
- 在先。Tā de guāndiǎn zài xiān yǐjīng bèi tǎolùn guò.His opinion has already been discussed previously.
- 在先。Qǐng zài zài xiān zuò hǎo zhǔnbèi zài chūfā.Please prepare well ahead of time before departing.
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