DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT
身先士卒
Mandarin · pinyin shēn xiān shì zú
Meanings
- to fight at the head of one's troops
- (fig.) to take the lead
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Mandarin tones
1–1–4–2 · shen1 xian1 shi4 zu2
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
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Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 2 senses · 1 Cantonese reading
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
san1 sin1 si6 zeot1
Cantonese word readings for 身先士卒. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
phrase
- (literal) to be situated in front of all soldiers and attack the enemy as the general
- (figurative) to take the lead as the leader
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack