先下手为强 先下手為強
先下手为强 先下手為強 xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng ㄒㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄧㄤˊ sin1 haa6 sau2 wai4 koeng4
- (idiom) strike first to gain the upper hand
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More words with these characters
先
- 事先 shì xiān ㄕˋ ㄒㄧㄢ si6 sin1 in advance
- 优先 優先 yōu xiān ㄧㄡ ㄒㄧㄢ jau1 sin1 to have priority; to take precedence
- 先例 xiān lì ㄒㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˋ sin1 lai6 precedent
- 先前 xiān qián ㄒㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄢˊ sin1 cin4 before; previously
- 先天 xiān tiān ㄒㄧㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ sin1 tin1 embryonic period (contrasted with 后天)
Show 15 more words with 先
- 先后 先後 xiān hòu ㄒㄧㄢ ㄏㄡˋ sin1 hau6 early or late; first and last; priority
- 先生 xiān sheng ㄒㄧㄢ ˙ㄕㄥ sin1 saang1 teacher
- 先进 先進 xiān jìn ㄒㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄣˋ sin1 zeon3 sophisticated; advanced (technology etc)
- 先锋 先鋒 xiān fēng ㄒㄧㄢ ㄈㄥ sin1 fung1 vanguard; pioneer; avant-garde
- 先驱 先驅 xiān qū ㄒㄧㄢ ㄑㄩ sin1 keoi1 to pioneer
- 原先 yuán xiān ㄩㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄢ jyun4 sin1 originally
- 率先 shuài xiān ㄕㄨㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄢ seot1 sin1 to take the lead
- 祖先 zǔ xiān ㄗㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄢ zou2 sin1 ancestors; forebears
- 预先 預先 yù xiān ㄩˋ ㄒㄧㄢ jyu6 sin1 beforehand; in advance
- 领先 領先 lǐng xiān ㄌㄧㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ling5 sin1 to lead
- 首先 shǒu xiān ㄕㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄢ sau2 sin1 first of all; in the first place
- 争先恐后 爭先恐後 zhēng xiān kǒng hòu ㄓㄥ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄏㄡˋ zang1 sin1 hung2 hau6 (idiom) to compete to be first; to scramble to get ahead; to rush forward for fear of falling behind
- 占先 佔先 zhàn xiān ㄓㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄢ zim3 sin1 to take precedence
- 尽先 儘先 jǐn xiān ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄢ zeon2 sin1 in the first instance
- 先主 xiān zhǔ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄓㄨˇ sin1 zyu2 former ruler; founding ruler
下
- 上下 shàng xià ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ soeng6 haa6 the top and bottom of sth
- 下令 xià lìng ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄥˋ haa6 ling6 to give an order; to issue an order
- 下来 下來 xià lai ㄒㄧㄚˋ ˙ㄌㄞ haa6 loi4 to come down
- 下列 xià liè ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄝˋ haa6 lit6 the following; listed below
- 下午 xià wǔ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄨˇ haa6 ng5 afternoon
Show 15 more words with 下
- 下去 xià qù ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄩˋ haa6 heoi3 to go down
- 下场 下場 xià chang ㄒㄧㄚˋ ˙ㄔㄤ haa6 coeng4 the end
- 下坠 下墜 xià zhuì ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓㄨㄟˋ haa6 zeoi6 (of objects) to fall
- 下属 下屬 xià shǔ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕㄨˇ haa6 suk6 subordinate
- 下山 xià shān ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕㄢ haa6 saan1 to go down a hill
- 下岗 下崗 xià gǎng ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄍㄤˇ haa6 gong1 (of a guard, sentry etc) to come off duty
- 下巴 xià ba ㄒㄧㄚˋ ˙ㄅㄚ haa6 baa1 chin
- 下手 xià shǒu ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕㄡˇ haa6 sau2 to start
- 下旬 xià xún ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄒㄩㄣˊ haa6 ceon4 last third of the month
- 下期 xià qī ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄧ haa6 kei4 next period (week, month or quarter etc)
- 下棋 xià qí ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄧˊ haa6 kei2 to play chess
- 下楼 下樓 xià lóu ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄌㄡˊ haa6 lau4 to go downstairs
- 下次 xià cì ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄘˋ haa6 ci3 next time
- 下水 xià shuǐ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ haa6 seoi2 downstream
- 下海 xià hǎi ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄏㄞˇ haa6 hoi2 to go out to sea
手
- 一手 yī shǒu ㄧ ㄕㄡˇ jat1 sau2 a skill
- 下手 xià shǒu ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕㄡˇ haa6 sau2 to start
- 二手 èr shǒu ㄦˋ ㄕㄡˇ ji6 sau2 indirectly acquired
- 人手 rén shǒu ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄡˇ jan4 sau2 manpower
- 伸手 shēn shǒu ㄕㄣ ㄕㄡˇ san1 sau2 to reach out with one's hand
Show 15 more words with 手
- 凶手 兇手 xiōng shǒu ㄒㄩㄥ ㄕㄡˇ hung1 sau2 murderer
- 入手 rù shǒu ㄖㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ jap6 sau2 to begin (with ...) (typically used in a structure such as 从 + {noun} + 入手: "to begin with {noun}; to take {noun} as one's starting point")
- 两手 兩手 liǎng shǒu ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄕㄡˇ loeng5 sau2 one's two hands
- 出手 chū shǒu ㄔㄨ ㄕㄡˇ ceot1 sau2 to dispose of
- 分手 fēn shǒu ㄈㄣ ㄕㄡˇ fan1 sau2 to part company
- 助手 zhù shǒu ㄓㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ zo6 sau2 assistant; helper
- 动手 動手 dòng shǒu ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄡˇ dung6 sau2 to set about (a task)
- 失手 shī shǒu ㄕ ㄕㄡˇ sat1 sau2 a slip
- 好手 hǎo shǒu ㄏㄠˇ ㄕㄡˇ hou2 sau2 expert
- 射手 shè shǒu ㄕㄜˋ ㄕㄡˇ se6 sau2 archer
- 对手 對手 duì shǒu ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄡˇ deoi3 sau2 opponent
- 帮手 幫手 bāng shou ㄅㄤ ˙ㄕㄡ bong1 sau2 helper; assistant
- 得手 dé shǒu ㄉㄜˊ ㄕㄡˇ dak1 sau2 to go smoothly; to come off; to succeed
- 手册 手冊 shǒu cè ㄕㄡˇ ㄘㄜˋ sau2 caak3 manual; handbook
- 手动 手動 shǒu dòng ㄕㄡˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ sau2 dung6 manual
为 為
- 人为 人為 rén wéi ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ jan4 wai4 artificial
- 以为 以為 yǐ wéi ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ji5 wai4 to think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken – unless referring to one's own current belief)
- 作为 作為 zuò wéi ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄨㄟˊ zok3 wai4 one's conduct
- 分为 分為 fēn wéi ㄈㄣ ㄨㄟˊ fan1 wai4 to divide sth into (parts); to subdivide
- 列为 列為 liè wéi ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄨㄟˊ lit6 wai4 to be classified as
Show 15 more words with 为 為
- 因为 因為 yīn wèi ㄧㄣ ㄨㄟˋ jan1 wai6 because; owing to; on account of
- 尤为 尤為 yóu wéi ㄧㄡˊ ㄨㄟˊ jau4 wai4 especially
- 成为 成為 chéng wéi ㄔㄥˊ ㄨㄟˊ sing4 wai4 to become; to turn into
- 改为 改為 gǎi wéi ㄍㄞˇ ㄨㄟˊ goi2 wai4 to change into
- 有为 有為 yǒu wéi ㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄟˊ jau5 wai4 promising
- 极为 極為 jí wéi ㄐㄧˊ ㄨㄟˊ gik6 wai4 extremely; exceedingly
- 为主 為主 wéi zhǔ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄨˇ wai4 zyu2 to rely mainly on
- 为了 為了 wèi le ㄨㄟˋ ˙ㄌㄜ wai6 liu5 for; for the purpose of; in order to
- 为人 為人 wéi rén ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄣˊ wai4 jan4 to conduct oneself
- 为何 為何 wèi hé ㄨㄟˋ ㄏㄜˊ wai6 ho4 why
- 为期 為期 wéi qī ㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄧ wai4 kei4 (to be done) by (a certain date)
- 为止 為止 wéi zhǐ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓˇ wai4 zi2 until
- 为此 為此 wèi cǐ ㄨㄟˋ ㄘˇ wai6 ci2 for this reason
- 为生 為生 wéi shēng ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄥ wai4 sang1 to make a living
- 为难 為難 wéi nán ㄨㄟˊ ㄋㄢˊ wai4 naan4 to feel embarrassed or awkward
Idioms with these characters
- 笨鸟先飞 笨鳥先飛 bèn niǎo xiān fēi ㄅㄣˋ ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄈㄟ ban6 niu5 sin1 fei1 lit. the clumsy bird flies early (idiom); fig. to work hard to compensate for one's limited abilities
- 敢为人先 敢為人先 gǎn wéi rén xiān ㄍㄢˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄢ gam2 wai4 jan4 sin1 to dare to be first
- 捷足先登 jié zú xiān dēng ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄗㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄥ zit3 zuk1 sin1 dang1 the quick-footed climb up first (idiom)
Show 7 more idioms with 先
- 溘先朝露 kè xiān zhāo lù ㄎㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄓㄠ ㄌㄨˋ hap6 sin1 ziu1 lou6 the morning dew will swiftly dissipate (idiom); fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence
- 身先朝露 shēn xiān zhāo lù ㄕㄣ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄓㄠ ㄌㄨˋ san1 sin1 ziu1 lou6 body will go with the morning dew (idiom); fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence
- 未卜先知 wèi bǔ xiān zhī ㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄓ mei6 buk1 sin1 zi1 (idiom) to foresee the future (without divination); to know beforehand through uncanny insight
- 闻风先遁 聞風先遁 wén fēng xiān dùn ㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄥ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄨㄣˋ man4 fung1 sin1 deon6 to flee at hearing the news (idiom)
- 先睹为快 先睹為快 xiān dǔ wéi kuài ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄨˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄎㄨㄞˋ sin1 dou2 wai4 faai3 (idiom) to consider it a pleasure to be among the first to read (or watch or enjoy)
- 先发制人 先發制人 xiān fā zhì rén ㄒㄧㄢ ㄈㄚ ㄓˋ ㄖㄣˊ sin1 faat3 zai3 jan4 (idiom) to gain the initiative by striking first; to preempt
- 先来后到 先來後到 xiān lái hòu dào ㄒㄧㄢ ㄌㄞˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄉㄠˋ sin1 loi4 hau6 dou3 (idiom) in order of arrival; first come, first served
- 包打天下 bāo dǎ tiān xià ㄅㄠ ㄉㄚˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ baau1 daa2 tin1 haa6 to run everything (idiom); to monopolize the whole business
- 兵临城下 兵臨城下 bīng lín chéng xià ㄅㄧㄥ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ bing1 lam4 sing4 haa6 soldiers at the city walls (idiom); fig. at a critical juncture
- 不愧下学 不愧下學 bù kuì xià xué ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄟˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ bat1 kwai3 haa6 hok6 not ashamed to learn from subordinates (idiom)
Show 7 more idioms with 下
- 承上起下 chéng shàng qǐ xià ㄔㄥˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ sing4 soeng6 hei2 haa6 to follow the past and herald the future (idiom); part of a historical transition
- 等而下之 děng ér xià zhī ㄉㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓ dang2 ji4 haa6 zi1 going from there to lower grades (idiom)
- 低首下心 dī shǒu xià xīn ㄉㄧ ㄕㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄣ dai1 sau2 haa6 sam1 to be fawningly submissive (idiom)
- 对症下药 對症下藥 duì zhèng xià yào ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄓㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄧㄠˋ deoi3 zing3 haa6 joek6 lit. to prescribe the right medicine for an illness (idiom); fig. to study a problem to find the right way to solve it
- 汗如雨下 hàn rú yǔ xià ㄏㄢˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄩˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ hon6 jyu4 jyu5 haa6 sweating like rain (idiom); to perspire profusely
- 江河日下 jiāng hé rì xià ㄐㄧㄤ ㄏㄜˊ ㄖˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ gong1 ho4 jat6 haa6 rivers pour away by the day (idiom); going from bad to worse
- 兼济天下 兼濟天下 jiān jì tiān xià ㄐㄧㄢ ㄐㄧˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ gim1 zai3 tin1 haa6 (idiom) to make everyone's lives better
- 爱不释手 愛不釋手 ài bù shì shǒu ㄞˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄕㄡˇ oi3 bat1 sik1 sau2 (idiom) to like sth so much that one is reluctant to put it down; to find sth utterly irresistible
- 碍手碍脚 礙手礙腳 ài shǒu ài jiǎo ㄞˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ngoi6 sau2 ngoi6 goek3 (idiom) to be in the way; to be a hindrance
- 白手起家 bái shǒu qǐ jiā ㄅㄞˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄑㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄚ baak6 sau2 hei2 gaa1 (idiom) to build up from nothing; to start from scratch
Show 7 more idioms with 手
- 赤手空拳 chì shǒu kōng quán ㄔˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄑㄩㄢˊ cek3 sau2 hung1 kyun4 (idiom) with one's bare hands (unarmed – also figuratively: without assistance)
- 措手不及 cuò shǒu bù jí ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ cou3 sau2 bat1 kap6 no time to deal with it (idiom); caught unprepared
- 大手大脚 大手大腳 dà shǒu dà jiǎo ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ daai6 sau2 daai6 goek3 extravagant (idiom); to throw away money by the handful
- 大显身手 大顯身手 dà xiǎn shēn shǒu ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄕㄣ ㄕㄡˇ daai6 hin2 san1 sau2 (idiom) fully displaying one's capabilities
- 得心应手 得心應手 dé xīn yìng shǒu ㄉㄜˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄥˋ ㄕㄡˇ dak1 sam1 jing3 sau2 lit. what the heart wishes, the hand accomplishes (idiom) skilled at the job
- 放开手脚 放開手腳 fàng kāi shǒu jiǎo ㄈㄤˋ ㄎㄞ ㄕㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄠˇ fong3 hoi1 sau2 goek3 to have free rein (idiom)
- 缚手缚脚 縛手縛腳 fù shǒu fù jiǎo ㄈㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ bok3 sau2 bok3 goek3 (idiom) to be bound by too many restrictions
- 逼良为娼 逼良為娼 bī liáng wéi chāng ㄅㄧ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄔㄤ bik1 loeng4 wai4 coeng1 to force an honest girl into prostitution (idiom)
- 不以为然 不以為然 bù yǐ wéi rán ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄢˊ bat1 ji5 wai6 jin4 not to accept as correct (idiom); to object
- 不足为怪 不足為怪 bù zú wéi guài ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄞˋ bat1 zuk1 wai4 gwaai3 not at all surprising (idiom)
Show 7 more idioms with 为 為
- 不足为奇 不足為奇 bù zú wéi qí ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄧˊ bat1 zuk1 wai4 kei4 not at all surprising (idiom)
- 慈悲为本 慈悲為本 cí bēi wéi běn ㄘˊ ㄅㄟ ㄨㄟˊ ㄅㄣˇ ci4 bei1 wai4 bun2 mercy as the guiding principle (idiom); the Buddhist teaching that nothing is valid except compassion
- 大有可为 大有可為 dà yǒu kě wéi ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄨㄟˊ daai6 jau5 ho2 wai4 with great prospects for the future (idiom); well worth doing
- 发奋有为 發奮有為 fā fèn yǒu wéi ㄈㄚ ㄈㄣˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄟˊ faat3 fan5 jau5 wai4 to prove one's worth through firm resolve (idiom)
- 反败为胜 反敗為勝 fǎn bài wéi shèng ㄈㄢˇ ㄅㄞˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄥˋ faan2 baai6 wai4 sing3 to turn defeat into victory (idiom); to turn the tide
- 反客为主 反客為主 fǎn kè wéi zhǔ ㄈㄢˇ ㄎㄜˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄨˇ faan2 haak3 wai4 zyu2 lit. the guest acts as host (idiom); fig. to turn from passive to active behavior
- 奉为圭臬 奉為圭臬 fèng wéi guī niè ㄈㄥˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄋㄧㄝˋ fung6 wai4 gwai1 jit6 to take as a guiding principle (idiom)
Example sentences
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先下手为强 先下手為強 ， 后 後 下手 遭殃 。
Get them before they get us.
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俗话说 俗話說 ： 人 不 犯 我 ， 我 不 犯人 ； 可 俗话 俗話 又 说 說 ： 先下手为强 先下手為強 ， 后 後 下手 遭殃 !
As the saying goes: As long as you don't offend me, I won't offend you. But there's another saying: To strike first means victory, to strike second means tragedy.
Sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY). Readings are generated automatically.