先斩后奏 xiān zhǎn hòu zòu

DEFINITIONS

  1. first decapitate then present your trophy (idiom); act first, report later

CHARACTERS

先 xiān
HSK 1
first, former, previous
斩 zhǎn
HSK 6
cut, chop, sever; behead
后 hòu
HSK 1
queen, empress, sovereign; (simp. for 後) behind, rear, after
奏 zòu
HSK 6
memorialize emperor; report