爭先恐後 zhēng xiān kǒng hòu

to rush to be first; compete eagerly

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. striving to be first and fearing to be last (idiom); outdoing one another

Characters

Character Meaning
爭 zhēng
to strive for; to vie for; to argue or debate
先 xiān HSK 1
first; in advance; early
恐 kǒng HSK 4
afraid; to fear; frightened
後 hòu
behind; after; later