喧宾夺主 xuān bīn duó zhǔ

fig. a minor player upstages the main attraction

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 45350th word

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. a minor player upstages the main attraction
  2. 2. minor details obscure the main point
  3. 3. the sauce is better than the fish
  4. 4. lit. the voice of the guest overwhelms that of the host (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
喧 xuān HSK 6
variant of 喧xuān; noise; clamor
宾 bīn HSK 2
guest; visitor; object (in grammar)
夺 duó HSK 6
to seize; to take away forcibly; to compete or strive for
主 zhǔ HSK 3
main; owner; master