先发制人

先發制人

xiānfāzhìrén

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

在谈判中，她选择先发制人，率先提出条件。

Zài tánpàn zhōng, tā xuǎnzé xiānfāzhìrén, shuàixiān tíchū tiáojiàn.

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

军队决定先发制人，在敌方准备好之前发动攻击。

Jūnduì juédìng xiānfāzhìrén, 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 originates from the Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian), echoing strategic principles also found in Sun Tzu's Art of War. 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