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How to Say ‘For the first time’ in Simplified Chinese

第一次

dì yī cì

[dee yee tsuh]

💬 Usage Tip: [第] makes numbers into order words: [第一] first, [第二] second, [第三次] third time. So [第一次] is literally [the first time].

Phrase Breakdown

第一

dì yī

[dee yee]

first

Used before counters or nouns to mean 'first' in order or occurrence.

Example

这是第一天。

This is the first day.

[tsuh]

time; occurrence

A measure word for the number of times an action happens.

Example

我去过一次。

I have gone once.

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