DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT
先禮後兵
简 先礼后兵 · 繁 先禮後兵Mandarin · pinyin xiān lǐ hòu bīng
Meanings
- (idiom) try persuasion before resorting to force
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Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.
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Mandarin tones
1–3–4–1 · xian1 li3 hou4 bing1
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
Connected dictionary
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Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
sin1 lai5 hau6 bing1
Cantonese word readings for 先禮後兵. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack
sin1 lai5 hau6 bing1
Pleco · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Word reading; meanings not aligned.
Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
phrase
- (idiomatic) to approach the situation politely before resorting to aggression (or more aggressive measures)
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack