先礼后兵 (xiān lǐ hòu bīng) — to try peaceful means before resorting to force; courtesy before coercion

Definition

An idiom meaning 'try peaceful means first, then use force if needed' — a diplomatic or negotiating strategy, not a physical fight. The 兵 here is figurative: pressure or action, not literal violence.

idiom
to try peaceful means before resorting to forcecourtesy before coercion

Examples

  • 先礼后兵，。
    Tán pàn shí wǒ men zuì hǎo xiān lǐ hòu bīng, xiān hǎo hǎo gōu tōng.
    In negotiations, we'd better try courtesy before force — communicate well first.
  • 先礼后兵，。
    Tā chǔ lǐ jiū fēn zǒng shì xiān lǐ hòu bīng, xiān jiǎng dào lǐ zài cǎi qǔ xíng dòng.
    He always handles disputes by trying peaceful means first — reasoning before taking action.
  • 先礼后兵。
    xiān lǐ hòu bīng De cè lüè ràng duì fāng wú fǎ jù jué wǒ men de yāo qiú.
    The strategy of courtesy before force left the other side unable to refuse our demands.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

先礼courtesy first
先xiānfirst礼lǐcourtesy
偏正Modifier + head
后兵force afterward
后hòuafter兵bīngforce/troops
偏正Modifier + head

先礼 means putting courtesy first, and 后兵 means using force afterward; together they advise trying peace before coercion.

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 →

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 禮; 礼 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
礻Written in full as示shìaltar
Sound part声符shēngfú
豊
豊lǐ禮lǐ
Same sound today

The traditional form 禮 pairs 礻 (altar) with 豊, a sound part, for performing rites at the altar; the simplified 礼 is a later shorthand.

Open 礼 →

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.

  • 斤斤jīna short axe
  • 廾廾gǒng2 hands

兵 combines 斤, a short axe, with 廾, two hands, showing a pair of hands holding a weapon.

Open 兵 →

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