Usage note
先后表示顺序。
Xiānhòu biǎoshì shùnxù.
Sequence indicates order.
Context note
常用于描述事件发生的顺序。
Cháng yòng yú miáoshù shìjiàn fāshēng de shùnxù.
Often used to describe the order in which events occur.
5 examples
他们先后到达了学校。
tā men xiān hòu dào dá le xué xiào。
They arrived at school in sequence.
请按先后顺序排队。
qǐng àn xiān hòu shùn xù pái duì。
Please line up in sequence.
我们先后吃了苹果和香蕉。
wǒ men xiān hòu chī le píng guǒ hé xiāng jiāo。
We ate apples and bananas in sequence.
他先后看了两本书。
tā xiān hòu kàn le liǎng běn shū。
He read two books in sequence.
小鸟先后飞走了。
xiǎo niǎo xiān hòu fēi zǒu le。
The little birds flew away in sequence.
5 mini stories
小兔子先后跳过了三个石头。
xiǎo tù zi xiān hòu tiào guò le sān gè shí tou。
The little rabbit jumped over three stones in sequence.
我们先后种下了花种子。
wǒ men xiān hòu zhǒng xià le huā zhǒng zi。
We planted flower seeds in sequence.
小猫先后喝了水和牛奶。
xiǎo māo xiān hòu hē le shuǐ hé niú nǎi。
The kitten drank water and milk in sequence.
孩子们先后唱了歌。
hái zi men xiān hòu chàng le gē。
The children sang songs in sequence.
太阳和月亮先后出现在天空。
tài yáng hé yuè liàng xiān hòu chū xiàn zài tiān kōng。
The sun and moon appeared in the sky in sequence.
Mini dialogue
先后顺序
A
请告诉我你做作业的先后顺序。
Qǐng gàosù wǒ nǐ zuò zuòyè de xiānhòu shùnxù.
Please tell me the sequence of doing your homework.
B
我先写语文，后写数学。
Wǒ xiān xiě yǔwén, hòu xiě shùxué.
I do Chinese first, then math.
先后到达
A
他们先后到达了学校。
Tāmen xiānhòu dàodá le xuéxiào.
They arrived at school one after another.
B
谁先到的？
Shéi xiān dào de?
Who arrived first?
Related words and contrasts
similar
顺序
shùnxù
order, sequence
顺序 is the general word for order, 先后 specifically refers to before and after.
related
前后
qiánhòu
front and back, around
前后 can mean sequence in time or space, similar to 先后.