Correct

先下手为强

/ xiān xià shǒu wèi qiáng /
Strokes
https://i.cchatty2.com/filters:format(webp)/fit-in/684x0/img/202102/先下手为强-Chinese-idioms-Cchatty-7cae1acc-1a21-4204-b124-85528b0a63a2-1612776441.jpg

Collocation

1
先下手为强,后下手遭殃
2
应该先下手为强
3
必须先下手为强
4
一定要先下手为强
5
他先下手为强,争取了主动

Definition

先下手为强

Literally means:

he who strikes the first blow has the advantage

Actually means:

gain the upper hand by acting first

It means that he who strikes the first blow or takes the initiative gets the upper hand in a fight.

It is often followed by 后下手遭殃 which means he who strikes second loses the advantage.

在对手没有准备好的时候首先动手,可以取得优势或主动地位。

后面常接“后下手遭殃”(后动手的往往被动或吃亏)。

Example

Used as predicate or object. (作谓语、宾语)
1
men
我们
xiānxiàshǒuwéijiàng
先下手为强
  
,
zǎo
提早
sān
yuè
tuīchū
推出
xīn
chǎnpǐn
产品
  
,
xùn
迅速
zhànlǐng
占领
le
guówài
国外
de
shìchǎng
市场
  

We started as strong, three months early to launch new products, quickly occupied the foreign market.

2
quèxìn
确信
xiānxiàshǒuwéijiàng
先下手为强
  
,
hòu
xiàshǒu
下手
zāoyāng
遭殃
  
,
suǒyǒu
所有
de
shìqing
事情
dōu
zǒu
zài
biéren
别人
de
qiánmiàn
前面
  
,
zài
fāngmiàn
方面
dōu
取得
zhǔdòngquán
主动权
  

He is convinced that the first hand for the strong, and then the first hand suffered, all things are in front of others, in all aspects to take the initiative.

3
zhè
这次
zhǎo
gōngzuò
工作
  
,
kàn
háishi
还是
xiānxiàshǒuwéijiàng
先下手为强
de
hǎo
  
,
jiànmiàn
见面
jiù
duān
chū
自己
de
huà
计划
  
,
zhèyàng
这样
néng
yíng
赢得
duìfāng
对方
hǎogǎn
好感
  

You look for a job this time, I think it is better to start first, a meeting on their own plans, so as to win the other side's good feelings.