争先恐后

zhēng xiān kǒng hòu

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 7 Rare

Save to list

A add to a list Esc back to results

Definitions

1. striving to be first and fearing to be last (idiom); outdoing one another

Stop forgetting what you study.
Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Get Yearly · $49.99 / year

Sign up with Google

Did Google show an error? Sorry about that. Use your email below instead.

Continue with Email

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Lifetime for $119.99 Try a practice session

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 与世无争 yǔ shì wú zhēng 与世无争 yǔ shì wú zhēng to stand aloof from worldly affairs 不跟社会上的人发生争执，形容超脱: to stand aloof from worldly affairs

Related words

1 item

• 力争上游 lì zhēng shàng yóu 力争上游 lì zhēng shàng yóu to strive for mastery (idiom); aiming for the best result 努力争取先进，用于积极竞争: to strive for mastery (idiom); aiming for the best result

Synonyms

1 item

• 你争我夺 nǐ zhēng wǒ duó 你争我夺 nǐ zhēng wǒ duó lit. you fight, I snatch (idiom); to compete fiercely offering no quarter 形容竞争激烈，互不相让: lit. you fight, I snatch (idiom); to compete fiercely offering no quarter

Example Sentences

1 shown

大家 争先恐后 地回答问题。

Everyone scrambled to answer the question.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 争先恐后

• 先 先 xiān: early
• 后 后 hòu: empress
• 争 争 zhēng: to strive for
• 恐 恐 kǒng: afraid
• 争先 争先 zhēng xiān: to compete to be first