Definition & Meaning

take strong measures only after courteous ones fail; be a gentleman first and a soldier second

xiān lǐ hòu bīng

先 礼 后 兵

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Chinese dictionary
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sltake strong measures only after courteous ones fail; be a gentleman first and a soldier second
- wǒ men yào xiān lǐ hòu bīng rú guǒ quàn xiáng shī bài de huà jiù fā dòng jìn gōng
  我们要先礼后兵，如果劝降失败的话，就发动进攻。
  Words before blows. We will launch the offensive if we fail to persuade them into surrender.
- nǐ yào xiān lǐ hòu bīng xiān tuī xíng huái róu zhèng cè bù dé yào lǐng zhī hòu jiù kě yǐ yòng zhè jù huà ràng duì fāng de jiǎo biàn wú chù cáng shēn
  你要先礼后兵，先推行怀柔政策不得要领之后，就可以用这句话，让对方的狡辩无处藏身。
  You would usually only use this phrase after politely requesting that someone repay a debt to you and they try to weasel out of it.

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