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先輩

简先辈 · 繁先輩

Mandarin · pinyin xiān bèi

an older generation
ancestors; forefathers

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Characters in this entry

先: xiān · first, former, previous
輩: Look up this written character
辈: bèi · generation, lifetime; class

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

1–4 · xian1 bei4

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 2 senses

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

noun

older generation; senior; elder
ancestor; predecessor

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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