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How to Say ‘I'll head off first.’ in Simplified Chinese

我先走了。

wǒ xiān zǒu le

[wo shyen zǒu le]

💬 Usage Tip: 先 "first" makes it clear you're leaving before the others, which softens the exit. The 了 signals you're about to go right now.

🇨🇳 In China: This is the usual polite line when you leave a gathering before everyone else. Others typically reply with 慢走 "take care" or 路上小心.

Phrase Breakdown

我

wǒ

[wo]

I

The speaker referring to themselves.

Example

我明天有空。

I am free tomorrow.

先

xiān

[shyen]

first

Marks the first recommended step.

Example

在“你可以先找…”里,先说明顺序。

In “You can first approach…”, 先 explains the order.

走

zǒu

[zǒu]

to leave; to go away

To depart from a place.

Example

我们该走了。

We should leave now.

了

le

[le]

change-of-state particle

Used with 快…了 to show something is about to happen.

Example

火车快来了。

The train is about to arrive.

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