phraseUK as the first attempt or effort: 首先 Enquiries about the post should be addressed in the first instance to the personnel manager.询问职位事宜应该首先咨询人事经理。 In the first instance, we will be working with people in the local area. The claims have to be decided in the fist instance by a military commission. The financial crisis started in the first instance with investors betting that the value of our nation's currency would fall. I think it would be a good idea to contact her by letter in the first instance. See also