兵马未动，粮草先行 bīng mǎ wèi dòng ， liáng cǎo xiān xíng

secure supplies before action; plan first

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. before the troops move, fodder and provisions go first (idiom); logistics comes before military maneuvers
  2. 2. an army marches on its stomach

Characters

Character Meaning
兵 bīng HSK 5
soldiers; military; weapons
马 mǎ HSK 3
horse; surname Ma
未 wèi HSK 5
not yet; not; have not
动 dòng HSK 2
(of sth) to move; to set in movement; to stir (emotions)
粮 liáng HSK 5
food; grain; provisions
草 cǎo HSK 3
grass; careless; rough
先 xiān HSK 1
first; in advance; early
行 xíng HSK 3
all right; OK!; will do