act first, report later
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to execute first and report later (originally of officials beheading criminals before imperial approval); to act on one's own initiative before reporting to superiors
formalOriginally described a serious breach of protocol in imperial China, often punishable by death. In modern usage, it describes taking independent action before obtaining necessary approval, and can carry either a negative connotation (overstepping authority) or a neutral/positive one (showing initiative).
Tā他
xiān先
zhǎn斩
hòu后
zòu奏
，
yǐ已
jīng经
bǎ把
xiàng项
mù目
qǐ启
dòng动
le了
cái才
xiàng向
zǒng总
bù部
huì汇
bào报
。
He acted first and reported later, already launching the project before informing headquarters.
Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
jiāng将
jūn军
xiān先
zhǎn斩
hòu后
zòu奏
shì是
yào要
mào冒
shā杀
tóu头
fēng风
xiǎn险
de的
。
In ancient times, a general who executed first and reported later risked beheading.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
shì事
bù不
néng能
xiān先
zhǎn斩
hòu后
zòu奏
，
bì必
xū须
tí提
qián前
qǐng请
shì示
lǐng领
dǎo导
。
This kind of matter cannot be handled first and reported later; you must ask for instructions from leadership in advance.
Wèi为
le了
jiù救
rén人
，
tā他
xiān先
zhǎn斩
hòu后
zòu奏
，
dòng动
yòng用
le了
yuán原
běn本
shǔ属
yú于
qí其
tā他
xiàng项
mù目
de的
zī资
jīn金
。
In order to save people, he acted first and reported later, using funds originally allocated to other projects.