先发制人 in English xian1 fa1 zhi4 ren2 Meaning

Meanings

  • to gain the initiative by striking first (idiomatic expression); to preempt
  • to anticipate
  • preemptive

Simplified Characters

先 发 制 人

Traditional Characters

先 發 制 人

Pinyin

xian1 fa1 zhi4 ren2

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

先xian1early 发fa1to send out 制zhi4system 人ren2man