擒賊先擒王 [－贼－－－]

Jyutping kam4 caak6 sin1 kam4 wong4
Pinyin qín zéi xiān qín wáng

Definitions (CC-CANTO)
  1. in war one must first catch the leader of the enemy to win, this is a metaphor to say that one must grasp the key crux before embarking on something
Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. 語句
    擊敗​對​方首腦​或者​主力​，​以挫​其他​敵​人​嘅​鬥​志​。
    (literally) to catch brigands, first catch their leader
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. proverb
    Synonym of 擒賊擒王／擒贼擒王 (qínzéiqínwáng).
    (syn.) 擒賊擒王, 擒贼擒王
Definitions (Kaifangcidian)
  1. （沒有對應漢語詞彙）
Examples (Wiktionary)
  1. Mandarin
    擒贼先擒王
    擒賊先擒王
    qín zéi xiān qín wáng
    • to defeat the enemy, first catch their chief