先斩后闻 xian zhan hou wen Kill first, then report

Explanation

原指臣子先把人处决了,然后再报告帝王。现比喻未经请示就先做了某事,造成既成事实,然后再向上级报告。

Originally meant that a minister executed someone first and then reported to the emperor. Now it is used to describe doing something without asking for permission first, creating a fait accompli, and then reporting to the superior.

Origin Story

话说汉朝时期,有个名叫申屠嘉的大臣,他为人正直,嫉恶如仇。一日,他发现朝廷中有人贪污受贿,证据确凿。申屠嘉深知贪官势力庞大,若按常规程序上奏,可能会被他们阻挠,甚至遭到报复。于是他当机立断,先将贪官抓捕并处决,然后将此事上报朝廷。皇上得知此事后,既赞赏申屠嘉的果断和勇气,也对先斩后闻的做法有所顾虑。经过仔细权衡,最终还是认可了申屠嘉的所为,并对他的忠诚和魄力给予了高度肯定。从此,“先斩后闻”便成为一个成语,用来形容那些不墨守成规,敢于承担责任,并且能为国家做出贡献的人。

hua shuo han chao shiqi, you ge ming jiao shen tu jia de dacheng, ta wei ren zhengzhi, ji e ru chou. yiri, ta faxian chao ting zhong you ren tanwu shouhui, zhengju quezao. shen tu jia shen zhi tan guan shili pangda, ruo an changgui chengxu shang zou, keneng hui bei tamen zuanao, shen zhi zaodao baofu. yushi ta dangji liduan, xian jiang tan guan zhua bu bing chu jue, ranhou jiang cishi shang bao chao ting. huang shang dezhi cishi hou, ji zanshang shen tu jia de guoduan he yongqi, ye dui xian zhan hou wen de zuofa yousuo gulu. jingguo zixi quan heng, zhongyu haishi renke le shen tu jia de suo wei, bing dui ta de zhongcheng he po li geiyule gaodu kenneng. cong ci, “xian zhan hou wen” bian cheng wei yige chengyu, yong lai xingrong na xie bu moshou chenggui, gan yu chengdan zeren, bingqie neng wei guojia zuochu gongxian de ren.

During the Han Dynasty, there was a righteous and upright minister named Shen Tu Jia. One day, he discovered that there was widespread corruption in the court, which he had clear evidence to support. Knowing that the corrupt officials were powerful and influential, and that a normal report to the emperor might lead to delays and retaliatory actions, he decided to take drastic action. He had the corrupt officials arrested and executed before informing the emperor. The emperor praised Shen Tu Jia for his determination and courage, but also expressed concerns about his approach. After careful consideration, however, the emperor accepted Shen Tu Jia's actions and commended his loyalty and great self-confidence. Since then, “先斩后闻” has been an idiom describing people who act decisively and responsibly and work for the good of the country.

Usage

通常用于形容不按常规程序办事,先斩后奏,然后再向上级报告的行为。

tongchang yongyu xingrong bu an changgui chengxu ban shi, xian zhan hou zou, ranhou zaixiang shangji baogao de xingwei.

It is usually used to describe the behavior of not following the usual procedures, acting first and then reporting to the superior.

Examples

  • 将军一声令下,士兵们先斩后闻,迅速完成了任务。

    jiangjun yisheng lingxia, bing shi men xian zhan hou wen, xunsu wancheng le renwu.

    At the general's command, the soldiers acted immediately without waiting for further instructions.

  • 面对突发的紧急情况,他先斩后闻,果断采取了行动。

    mian dui tufa de jinji qingkuang, ta xian zhan hou wen, guoduan caiqu le xingdong

    Faced with a sudden emergency, he acted decisively without prior consultation.