身先士卒 shēn xiān shì zú

DEFINITIONS

  1. to fight at the head of one's troops
  2. (fig.) to take the lead

CHARACTERS

身 shēn
HSK 2
body; trunk, hull; rad. no. 158
先 xiān
HSK 1
first, former, previous
士 shì
HSK 4
scholar, gentleman; soldier
卒 zú soldier; servant; at last, finally