verb / adjective HSK 5
Traditional 領先
to lead · to be in the lead · to be ahead · leading
Meaning
领先 describes being ahead of others in a competition, race, development, or any comparative situation. It combines 领 (to lead) and 先 (first/ahead) to express the state of being in front or having an advantage over competitors or peers.
Usage
Commonly used in sports competitions, business contexts, technological development, and academic rankings. Can describe both temporary leads (在比赛中领先) and sustained advantages (技术领先). Often followed by specific margins or measurements of the lead.
Examples
- 01我们队在上半场以两分领先。.Our team is leading by two points in the first half.
- 02这家公司在人工智能领域处于领先地位。.This company holds a leading position in the field of artificial intelligence.
Characters
Common collocations
- 遥遥领先to be far ahead, to lead by a wide margin
- 领先优势leading advantage
- 暂时领先to lead temporarily
- 技术领先technologically advanced/leading
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 领 (originally meaning 'collar' or 'neck', extended to 'lead') with 先 (ahead/first), creating a compound meaning 'to be first' or 'to lead the way'.