先发制人 xiān fā zhì rén

DEFINITIONS

  1. to gain the initiative by striking first (idiom); to preempt
  2. to anticipate
  3. preemptive

CHARACTERS

先 xiān
HSK 1
first, former, previous
发 fā
HSK 3
issue, dispatch, send out; hair
制 zhì
HSK 5
system; establish; overpower
人 rén
HSK 1
man; people; mankind; someone else