後發制人 [后发－－]

Jyutping hau6 faat3 zai3 jan4
Pinyin hòu fā zhì rén

Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. phrase, idiomatic
    to gain mastery by striking only after the enemy had struck
    • 都是雙方強弱不同，弱者先讓一步，後發制人，因而戰勝的。
      都是双方强弱不同，弱者先让一步，后发制人，因而战胜的。
      dōu shì shuāng fāng qiáng ruò bù tóng ， ruò zhě xiān ràng yī bù ， hòu fā zhì rén ， yī né r5 zhàn shèng de ．
      In each case the contending sides were unequal, and the weaker side, yielding some ground at first, gained mastery by striking only after the enemy had struck and so defeated the stronger side.
Examples (Wiktionary)
  1. Mandarin
    后发制人
    後發制人
    hòu fā zhì rén
    • to overpower the opponent by reacting to their (ill-advised) initiative; to win by not striking the first
  2. Mandarin
    都是双方强弱不同，弱者先让一步，后发制人，因而战胜的。
    都是雙方強弱不同，弱者先讓一步，後發制人，因而戰勝的。
    dōu shì shuāng fāng qiáng ruò bù tóng ， ruò zhě xiān ràng yī bù ， hòu fā zhì rén ， yī né r5 zhàn shèng de ．
    • In each case the contending sides were unequal, and the weaker side, yielding some ground at first, gained mastery by striking only after the enemy had struck and so defeated the stronger side.