先发制人

先發制人

xiānfā-zhìrén

idiom #20,183

Meanings

1 to gain the initiative by striking first
2 to preempt
3 to get in the first blow

Characters

first; in advance

to launch; to strike

to control; to subdue

person; the enemy

Examples

HSK 6

在谈判中，她选择先发制人，率先提出条件。

Zài tánpàn zhōng, tā xuǎnzé xiānfā-zhìrén, shuàixiān tíchū tiáojiàn.

In the negotiation, she chose to act first and put forward terms before anyone else.

HSK 7-9

军队决定先发制人，在敌方准备好之前发动攻击。

Jūnduì juédìng xiānfā-zhìrén, zài dífāng zhǔnbèi hǎo zhīqián fādòng gōngjī.

The military decided to strike first and launch an attack before the enemy was ready.

Tips

history

This idiom comes from the Book of Han (汉书), in the biography of Xiang Yu: 'whoever strikes first controls others, whoever strikes later is controlled by others.' The idea is that striking first gives a decisive advantage - 先 (first), 发 (to launch/strike), 制 (to control/subdue), 人 (the enemy/people).

Stroke Order

先 xiān

发 fā

制 zhì

人 rén