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Chinese Character/Word:

Definition(s) for: 先斩后奏

Hanzi Pinyin Definition(s)
先斩后奏 xiān zhǎn hòu zòu - lit. first execute the criminal, then report it to the emperor (idiom)
- fig. to take some drastic action without the prior approval of higher authorities

List Ranking:

Where rank 1 is most common, and higher numbers are less common.

HSK 2 Level (2012) HSK 3 Band (2022) SUBTLEX-CH BeijingUni Global BeijingUni Weibo
- - 46,479 68,231 51,974

Individual Character Breakdown:

Simp Pinyin Eng
xiān- beforehand; first; earlier
- at first; originally
- for the time being; for now
- (prefix) my late (in referring to deceased relatives older than oneself)
zhǎn- to behead (as form of capital punishment)
- to chop
hòu- surname Hou
hòu- empress
- queen
- (archaic) monarch
- ruler
hòu- back
- behind
- rear
- afterwards
- after
- later
- post-
zòu- to play music
- to achieve
- to present a memorial to the emperor (old)

Other Words Containing 先斩后奏

Sorted by the 'SUBTLEX-CH' rank because that seems like the most reliable. Words without a SUBTLEX-CH rank are ignored for being too rare.

Word HSK 2 Level (2012) HSK 3 Band (2022) SUBTLEX-CH BeijingUni Global BeijingUni Weibo
先斩后奏 - - 46,479 68,231 51,974