trước hết
Definition
- Adverb:
- First / Firstly: Used to introduce the most important point, step, or item in a sequence or list. It indicates priority in order, time, or importance.
- Before anything else: Emphasizes that a particular action or consideration must occur prior to others.
Usage Examples
- Adverb:
- Trước hết, chúng ta cần hiểu vấn đề. (First, we need to understand the problem.)
- Trước hết bạn phải đăng nhập. (You must log in first.)
- Trước hết, tôi muốn cảm ơn mọi người. (Firstly, I would like to thank everyone.)
Advanced Usage
- Used to structure arguments or instructions, often followed by "thứ hai" (secondly), "tiếp theo" (next), or "sau đó" (after that).
- Trước hết, chuẩn bị nguyên liệu. Thứ hai, làm nóng lò. (First, prepare the ingredients. Secondly, preheat the oven.)
Variants and Related Words
Đầu tiên (adv): First, firstly. Often interchangeable with "trước hết" but can sound slightly more sequential.
- Bước đầu tiên là đọc hướng dẫn. (The first step is to read the instructions.)
Trước tiên (adv): First of all, before anything else. A direct synonym.
- Trước tiên, hãy giữ bình tĩnh. (First of all, stay calm.)
Synonyms
- Firstly: Used to introduce a first point or reason.
- First: Preceding all others in time, order, or importance.
- Before anything else: Prior to any other action or consideration.
Related Phrases
- Trên hết (adv): Above all. Used for emphasis on supreme importance, whereas "trước hết" relates to sequence.
- Trên hết, sức khỏe là quan trọng nhất. (Above all, health is the most important.)