TongTong
Sign in

先下手为强 (xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng) — to take the initiative is to gain the upper hand; the early bird catches the worm

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'he who strikes first wins' — acting first gives the advantage. Used to justify seizing the initiative in competition, business, or conflict, often as a strategy principle.

idiom
to take the initiative is to gain the upper handthe early bird catches the worm

Examples

  • ，先下手为强，。
    Zhè cì bǐ sài, xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng, wǒ men yīng gāi tí qián zhǔn bèi.
    In this competition, to take the initiative is to gain the upper hand — we should prepare in advance.
  • 先下手为强，。
    Zuò shēng yi yào jì zhù xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng, wǎn le jī huì jiù méi le.
    When doing business, remember that the first mover gains the advantage; if you're late, the opportunity is gone.
  • 先下手为强，。
    xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng, Dí rén hái méi fǎn yìng guò lái wǒ men jiù zhàn lǐng le gāo dì.
    We took the initiative and gained the upper hand — before the enemy could react, we had seized the high ground.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

先 combines 止 (foot) and 儿 (person) to show someone moving forward.

Open 先 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

Open 下 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

手 draws a five-fingered human hand: the top line is a bent middle finger, and the horizontal lines show the other four fingers.

Open 手 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 強; 强 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 強 pairs an insect component with a sound component; this explains 強, not the simplified 强.

Open 强 →
Appears in
Conflict & AgreementIdioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.