先斩后奏 (xiān zhǎn hòu zòu) — (idiom) to act first and report afterwards

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning to take decisive (often unauthorized) action first and only inform superiors later. Often carries a negative tone, implying the action skipped proper approval.

idiom
to act first and report afterwards

Examples

  • ，先斩后奏，。
    Tā wèi le gǎn jìn dù, xiān zhǎn hòu zòu, tí qián qiān le hé tong.
    To meet the deadline, he acted first and reported afterwards, signing the contract ahead of time.
  • 先斩后奏，。
    Zhè cì gǎi gé shì xiān zhǎn hòu zòu de, lǐng dǎo shì hòu cái zhī dào.
    This reform was carried out first and reported later—the leaders only found out afterwards.
  • 先斩后奏，。
    Jiàn yì nǐ bú yào xiān zhǎn hòu zòu, xiān zhēng qiú yí xià dà jiā de yì jiàn.
    I suggest you don't act first and report later; first ask for everyone's opinions.

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斬; 斩 is its simplified writing.

  • 斤斤jīnaxe
  • 車車jūcart; vehicle

The traditional form 斬 combines 斤 (axe) and 車 (cart) to show an old punishment where carts tore apart a body, giving the sense 'to cut'; the simplified 斩 is only a shorthand.

Open 斩 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →

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

The shape of 奏 pictures hands holding an object, perhaps an instrument used in a ritual, or hands collecting resin dripping from a cut tree.

Open 奏 →

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