先斩后奏

Traditional: 先斬後奏

xiān zhǎn hòu zòu

Dictionary entry

(lit.) execute sb first, then report to the emperor (idiom)

What does 先斩后奏 mean?

先斩后奏 (xiān zhǎn hòu zòu) has the following dictionary meaning.

1(lit.) execute sb first, then report to the emperor (idiom)

2(fig.) to act first and report later; to take action without prior approval

Character breakdown

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先xiānbeforehand; first; earlier · at first; originally 斩zhǎnto behead (as form of capital punishment) · to chop 后Hòusurname Hou 奏zòuto play music · to achieve

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How to pronounce 先斩后奏

先斩后奏

xiān zhǎn hòu zòu

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Base dictionary data: CC-CEDICT · CC BY-SA 4.0.