tiên
[tiən˧˧]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(adverb) first; prior; before
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Tiên học lễ, hậu học văn.Manners come first, schoolwork later.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Sense 2
Meaning · English
(noun) xian (an immortal; celestial being)
Examples
thần tiêngods and immortals
Bát TiênEight Immortals
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sense 3
Meaning · English
(noun) a fine, beautiful creature such as a fairy, a pixie, an undine, an elf, a dryad, a mermaid, etc.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
một sinh vật đẹp như tiên, pixie, undine, elf, dryad, người cá
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Examples
cô tiên xanhthe blue fairy godmother
Nàng tiên cáthe Little Mermaid
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Common questions
What does “tiên” mean?
(adverb) first; prior; before
Is “tiên” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.