后发制人 (hòu fā zhì rén) — to gain mastery by counterattacking after the opponent has struck first; to win by striking second

Definition

A four-character idiom (chéngyǔ) meaning to win by waiting for the opponent to act first, then striking back. The literal idea: 'those who act later gain the advantage.'

idiom
to gain mastery by counterattacking after the opponent has struck firstto win by striking second

Examples

  • ，后发制人，，。
    Zài zhè chǎng biàn lùn zhōng, tā cǎi yòng le hòu fā zhì rén de cè lüè, xiān ràng duì fāng fā yán, rán hòu cái tí chū fǎn bó.
    In this debate, he adopted the strategy of counterattacking: he let the opponent speak first, then refuted their points.
  • ，后发制人，。
    Miàn duì qiáng dí, zuì hǎo de fāng fǎ jiù shì hòu fā zhì rén, děng duì fāng lòu chū pò zhàn zài chū jī.
    When facing a strong enemy, the best approach is to counterattack: wait for the opponent to show a weakness before striking.
  • ，后发制人，。
    Tǐ yù bǐ sài zhōng, hòu fā zhì rén shì yì zhǒng cháng jiàn de zhàn shù, yóu qí zài fáng shǒu fǎn jī de bǐ sài zhōng.
    In sports competitions, counterattacking is a common tactic, especially in defensive counterattack matches.

Origin

Characters in this word

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 發; 发 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 发 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (爆发, 出发) it is 發; in others (理发, 头发) it is 髮.

The form 發, which 发 stands for in many words, was originally drawn as a bow firing an arrow.

Open 发 →

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

The form 制 pairs 朱 (tree) with 刀 (knife), showing the act of cutting a tree.

Open 制 →

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →

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