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先斬後奏

简先斩后奏 · 繁先斬後奏

Mandarin · pinyin xiān zhǎn hòu zòu

(lit.) execute sb first, then report to the emperor (idiom)
(fig.) to act first and report later; to take action without prior approval

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Characters in this entry

先: xiān · first, former, previous
斬: Look up this written character
後: hòu · behind, rear, after; descendents
奏: zòu · memorialize emperor; report
斩: zhǎn · cut, chop, sever; behead
后: hòu · queen, empress, sovereign; (simp. for 後) behind, rear, after

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

1–3–4–4 · xian1 zhan3 hou4 zou4

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

先斬後奏 · find source passages ↗ · 先斩后奏 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

sin1 zaam2 hau6 zau3

Cantonese word readings for 先斬後奏. 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

(idiomatic) to act first and report later; to act first and seek permission therefor later

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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