先斩后奏 xiān zhǎn hòu zòu

act first, ask permission later

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 44953rd word

Definitions

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

Characters

Character Meaning
先 xiān HSK 1
first; in advance; early
斩 zhǎn HSK 6
to chop; to behead (as form of capital punishment)
后 hòu HSK 1
behind; after; later
奏 zòu HSK 6
to play music; to achieve