Pinyin "xian1"

In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, the Pinyin syllable "xian1" is split up into two parts: "xi" and "an1". You can visit the Pinyin index to see how other Pinyin syllables are split up into initials and finals.

Mnemonics for Pinyin initial "xi"

Xi is for Marie Curie.
Alternative mnemonic for xi: Xi Shi (西施), one of the renowned Four Beauties of ancient China.

Mnemonics for Pinyin final "an1"

In front of the anthill.

Characters pronounced xian1

early / prior / former / in advance / first

= + : Mnemonic symbol: the First Lady of the United States, FLOTUS.

In front of the anthill, Sun Wukong, the FLOTUS and Marie Curie dance around the golden calf. When it comes to be in favour of their gods, everyone of them wants to be first.
fish / old variant of 鮮|鲜[xian1]

= + : Marie Curie (xi) devours her lunch in front of the anthill (an1). It consists of a dead sheep (羊) and a dead fish (鱼). Marie Curie eats the carcasses and thinks that they are very fresh (鲜) and delicious (鲜). They are, because Marie killed the sheep and the fish just one minute ago.
fresh / bright (in color) / delicious / tasty / delicacy / aquatic foods

= + : Marie Curie (xi) devours her lunch in front of the anthill (an1). It consists of a dead sheep (羊) and a dead fish (鱼). Marie Curie eats the carcasses and thinks that they are very fresh (鲜) and delicious (鲜). They are, because Marie killed the sheep and the fish just one minute ago.
immortal

= + : Rosa Luxemburg and Marie Curie are merging their entities into a new superentity in front of the anthill. They are using forks to form the connection.
variant of 仙[xian1]

= + : Rosa Luxemburg and Marie Curie are merging their entities into a new superentity in front of the anthill. They are using forks to form the connection.
fine / delicate / minute

= + : Marie Curie (xi) finds that there are many fine (纤) silk worms (纟) in front of the anthill (a1). She wants to preserve the delicate (纤) worms and thus puts a kilo (千) on them to press and dry them.
to lift (a lid) / to rock / to convulse

= + : Marie Curie (xi) is looking for her keys in front of the anthill (an1) and leaves no stone unturned (掀). She is very happy (欣) to find a toy claw (扌): now she doesn't have to bend down anymore to lift (掀) a rock.
wild onions or leeks
acid radical / -acyl (chemistry)
sunrise
xenon (chemistry)
Ahura Mazda, the creator deity in Zoroastrianism
Ormazda, the Sun God of the Zoroastrians and Manicheans / the Sun God
fish-spear / sharp
Japanese variant of 纖|纤
common rice
long-grained rice / same as 秈