倒悬之急
dào xuán zhī jí
-
1 lit. the crisis of being hanged upside down (idiom); fig. extremely critical situation
-
2 dire straits
先下手为强
xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng
-
1 strike first and gain the upper hand (idiom, martial arts term); Making the first move is an advantage.
先斩后奏
xiān zhǎn hòu zòu
-
1 first decapitate then present your trophy (idiom); act first, report later
先发制人
xiān fā zhì rén
-
1 to gain the initiative by striking first (idiom); to preempt
-
2 to anticipate
-
3 preemptive
先睹为快
xiān dǔ wéi kuài
-
1 joy of first experience (idiom)
-
2 the pleasure of reading sth for the first time
先礼后兵
xiān lǐ hòu bīng
-
1 peaceful measures before using force (idiom); diplomacy before violence
-
2 jaw-jaw is better than war-war
兵马未动,粮草先行
bīng mǎ wèi dòng , liáng cǎo xiān xíng
-
1 before the troops move, fodder and provisions go first (idiom); logistics comes before military maneuvers
-
2 an army marches on its stomach
工欲善其事,必先利其器
gōng yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì
-
1 To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
心急吃不了热豆腐
xīn jí chī bu liǎo rè dòu fu
-
1 hasty men don't get to eat hot tofu (idiom)
-
2 one just has to be patient
-
3 haste will ruin everything
急人之难
jí rén zhī nàn
-
1 anxious to help others resolve difficulties (idiom)
急功近利
jí gōng jìn lì
-
1 seeking instant benefit (idiom); shortsighted vision, looking only for fast return
急如星火
jí rú xīng huǒ
-
1 lit. as hurried as a shooting star (idiom); requiring immediate action
-
2 extremely urgent
急于求成
jí yú qiú chéng
-
1 anxious for quick results (idiom); to demand instant success
-
2 impatient for result
-
3 impetuous
急转直下
jí zhuǎn zhí xià
-
1 to develop rapidly after abrupt turn (idiom); dramatic change
情急智生
qíng jí zhì shēng
-
1 inspiration in a moment of desperation (idiom)
-
2 also written 情急之下
捷足先登
jié zú xiān dēng
-
1 the quick-footed climb up first (idiom)
-
2 the early bird catches the worm
-
3 first come, first served
操之过急
cāo zhī guò jí
-
1 to act with undue haste (idiom); eager and impatient
-
2 overhasty
救急不救穷
jiù jí bù jiù qióng
-
1 help the starving but not the poor (idiom)
敢为人先
gǎn wéi rén xiān
-
1 to dare to be first
-
2 to pioneer (idiom)
春江水暖鸭先知
chūn jiāng shuǐ nuǎn yā xiān zhī
-
1 lit. the duck is the first to know if the spring water is warm (idiom)
-
2 fig. an expert in the field knows which way the wind blows