先斬後奏 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
斬 zhǎn cut, chop, sever; behead
後 hòu behind, rear, after; descendents
奏 zòu
HSK 6
memorialize emperor; report