In this HSK 3 video lesson we'll learn how to use the structure "先 ……，再……，然后……，最后……" to say "first…, then…, after-that…, (in the) end…". We'll also learn the variations of this structure.

先……，再……，然后……，最后……。
Variations:
- 先……，再……。
- 先……，然后……。
- 先……，再……，最后。
- 先……，然后……，最后。

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GRAMMAR

Grammar 1. 先……，再……，然后……，最后……。

Xiān......, zài......, ránhòu......, zuìhòu......。 ▸ First…, then…, after-that…, (in the) end… .

This structure suggests that a series of actions or events occur in succession. The order of 先, 再, 然后 and 最后 cannot be changed.

We can use this structure like this:

Wǒ xiān zuò Shùxué zuòyè, zài zuò Hànyǔ zuòyè, ránhòu zuò Yīngyǔ zuòyè, zuìhòu zuò Fǎyǔ zuòyè.
我先做数学作业，再做汉语作业，然后做英语作业，最后做法语作业。
I first do Math homework, then do Chinese homework, after-that (I) do English homework, (in the) end (I) do French homework.
Huí jiā yǐhòu, wǒ xiān chī wǎnfàn, zài zuò yùndòng, ránhòu xǐzǎo, zuìhòu shuìjiào.
回家以后，我先吃晚饭，再做运动，然后洗澡，最后睡觉。
(In the) time (that is) after returning home, I first eat evening-meal, then do-exercise, after-that (I) take-(a)-shower, (in the) end (I) sleep.

Grammar 2. Variations of Structure "先……，再……，然后……，最后……".

When we use the structure "先……，再……，然后……，最后……", there are four actions or events. If we have less than four, we can also use other structures, such as:

Xiān……，zài.……。先 ……，再……。First..., then... .
Xiān……，ránhòu……。先 ……，然后……。 First..., after-that... .
Xiān……，zài.……，zuìhòu......。先 ……，再……，最后……。First..., then..., (in the) end… .
Xiān……，ránhòu……，zuìhòu......。先 ……，然后……，最后……。First..., after-that..., (in the) end… .

(1) 先……，再……。Xiān……，zài.……。▸ First..., then... .

When we have two events, we can use "先......，再......". For example,

Nǐ xiān xiǎng jǐ tiān zài zuò juédìng.
你先想几天再做决定。
You (can) first think (about it) (for) several days (and) then make (the) decision.
Wǒmen xiān pāi zhàopiàn, zài pāi shìpín.
我们先拍照片，再拍视频。
We (will) first take (the) photos, (and) then take (the) videos.

(2) 先……，然后……。Xiān……，ránhòu……。▸ First..., after-that... .

When we have two events, we can also use "先......，然后......". For example,

Shì tā xiān bān de jiā, ránhòu wǒmen yě bān jiā le.
是他先搬的家，然后我们也搬家了。
(It) was him (that) first moved (his) home, after-that we also moved (our) home.
Wǒmen xiān zuò diàntī shàng bā lóu zhǎo Zhāng Yīshēng, ránhòu dào shí lóu zhǎo Gāo Hùshi.
我们先坐电梯上八楼找张医生，然后到十楼找高护士。
We (will) take (the) elevator to go-up to (the) 8(th) Floor to seek Doctor Zhang, then (we will) arrive (the) 10(th) Floor to seek Nurse Gao.

(3) 先 ……，再……，最后……。Xiān……，zài.……，zuìhòu......。▸ First..., then..., (in the) end… .

When we have three events, we can also use "先……，再……，最后……". For example,

Wǒmen xiān xué shēngcí, zài liànxí duìhuà, zuìhòu xué xiě Hànzì.
我们先学生词，再练习对话，最后学写汉字。
We (will) first learn (the) new-words, then (we will) practice (the) dialogue, (in the) end (we will) learn to write (the) Chinese-Characters.
Nín xiān shìshi zhè zhǒng lǜchá, zài shìshi nà zhǒng hóngchá, zuìhòu hái kěyǐ shìshi xīn lái de Lánshān Kāfēi.
您先试试这种绿茶，再试试那种红茶，最后还可以试试新来的蓝山咖啡。
You (can) first try this type (of) green-tea “really quick”, then (you can) try that type (of) black-tea “really quick”, (in the) end (you can) additionally try (the) new(ly)-came Blue-Mountain-Coffee.

(4) 先……，然后……，最后……。Xiān……，ránhòu……，zuìhòu......。▸ First..., after-that..., (in the) end… .

When we have three events, we can also use "先……，然后……，最后……". For example,

Wǒmen xiān pá shān, ránhòu chī wǔfàn, zuìhòu huá chuán.
我们先爬山，然后吃午饭，最后划船。
We first climbed (the) hill, then ate lunch, (in the) end (we) paddled boat.
Zuò zhè dào cài de shíhou, xiān fàng cài, ránhòu fàng ròu, zuìhòu fàng yán hé táng.
做这道菜的时候，先放菜，然后放肉，最后放盐和糖。
(At the) time (when) making this “dao” (of) dish, (we) first put-in (the) vegetable, then put-in (the) meat, (in the) end (we) put-in salt and sugar.