先礼后兵 xiān lǐ hòu bīng

DEFINITIONS

  1. peaceful measures before using force (idiom); diplomacy before violence
  2. jaw-jaw is better than war-war

CHARACTERS

先 xiān
HSK 1
first, former, previous
礼 lǐ
HSK 3
social custom; manners; courtesy
后 hòu
HSK 1
queen, empress, sovereign; (simp. for 後) behind, rear, after
兵 bīng
HSK 5
soldier, troops