先下手為強 [－－－为强]

Jyutping sin1 haa6 sau2 wai4 koeng4
Pinyin xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. strike first and gain the upper hand (idiom, martial arts term); Making the first move is an advantage.
Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. 語句
    要​先​發制​人​，​先​可以​贏到​人
    to gain upper hand by taking the initiative; literally: one who strikes first gains the advantage;
    • 唔好再等喇，先下手為強，行動喇。
      唔好再等喇，先下手为强，行动喇。
      m4 hou2 zoi3 dang2 laa3, sin1 haa6 sau2 wai4 koeng4, hang4 dung6 laa3.
      Do not still waiting, we have to take our first gain, let's do it.
    • 先下手為強，後下手遭殃。
      先下手为强，后下手遭殃。
      sin1 haa6 sau2 wai4 koeng4, hau6 haa6 sau2 zou1 joeng1
      x
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. phrase, idiomatic
    to strike first and gain the upper hand
Examples (Tatoeba—Mandarin-English)
  1. Mandarin
    俗话说：人不犯我，我不犯人；可俗话又说：先下手为强，后下手遭殃!
    俗話說：人不犯我，我不犯人；可俗話又說：先下手為強，後下手遭殃!
    sú huà shuō ： rén bù fàn wǒ ， wǒ bù fàn rén ； kě sú huà yòu shuō ： xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng ， hòu xià shǒu zāo yāng !
    • As the saying goes: As long as you dont offend me, I dont offend you; But there's another saying: To strike frist means victory, to strike second means tragedy.
  2. Mandarin
    先下手为强，后下手遭殃。
    先下手為強，後下手遭殃。
    xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng ， hòu xià shǒu zāo yāng 。
    • Get them before they get us.
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    唔好再等喇，先下手为强，行动喇。
    唔好再等喇，先下手為強，行動喇。
    m4 hou2 zoi3 dang2 laa3, sin1 haa6 sau2 wai4 koeng4, hang4 dung6 laa3.
    • Do not still waiting, we have to take our first gain, let's do it.
  2. Cantonese
    先下手为强，后下手遭殃。
    先下手為強，後下手遭殃。
    sin1 haa6 sau2 wai4 koeng4, hau6 haa6 sau2 zou1 joeng1
    • x