起先

wǒ qǐ xiān hái yǐ wéi shì xià yǔ zǐ xì yī tīng cái zhī dào shì guā fēng

我起先还以为是下雨，仔细一听，才知道是刮风。

I thought it was raining. Only after I listened carefully, did I realize it was the wind.

qǐ xiān tā fǎn duì hòu lái cái tóng yì

起先他反对，后来才同意。

At first, he was opposed to the idea, but later he came around.

qǐ xiān tā hái bù yuàn yì zǒu

起先他还不愿意走。

He would not leave at first.

qǐ xiān wǒ men duì cǐ shén me dōu bù zhī dào

起先，我们对此什么都不知道。

I knew nothing about it in the beginning.

qǐ xiān wǒ yǒu diǎn xiǎng bù tōng hòu lái cái xiǎng tōng le

起先，我有点想不通，后来才想通了。

At first, I didn't understand, but I've come round to the idea now.

qǐ xiān wǒ hái yǐ wéi chū le shén me shì ne

起先，我还以为出了什么事呢。

At first, I thought something bad had happened.

tā men qǐ xiān qì shì xiōng xiōng dàn yī kàn qíng xíng bù miào lì kè jiù ruǎn le xià lai

他们起先气势汹汹，但一看情形不妙，立刻就软了下来。

They make threats but back down at the first sniff of trouble.

qǐ xiān wǒ bù xǐ huan fáng jiān de yán sè kě shì xiàn zài yuè lái yuè xǐ huan le

起先，我不喜欢房间的颜色，可是现在越来越喜欢了。

I didn't like the color of the room at first, but it's growing on me.