事先
shìxiān · HSK 4
in advance
⏰ 事先 = matter (事) + before (先): handle the matter beforehand
事 means matter or affair; 先 means first or before. Together: dealing with something in advance of when it happens. Compare 先 in 先生 (one born first = mister) — same before sense applied to time.
事 — hand 又 holding a banner/tablet on a pole
Originally a pictograph of a hand (又) grasping a pole or ceremonial banner used by an official, depicting the act of conducting court business. From this it came to mean 'affair, matter, business, service.' It shares an ancient origin with 史 (scribe) and 吏 (official).
先 — 𠂉 (person variant) on top + 儿 (legs) below
先 originally depicted a person with a foot or step shown above the legs 儿, suggesting someone walking ahead. From this image of going before others came the meanings 'first,' 'earlier,' and 'ahead.' The modern shape preserves the 'legs' radical underneath.