Definition
This is a four-character idiom (成语) meaning 'to overawe others by displaying one's strength' — it describes the tactic of gaining an advantage by making a strong first impression, often through a preemptive show of force or confidence. The literal image is 'the first sound seizes the person.' It's used in competitive contexts like business, sports, or debate, where the opening move sets the tone and intimidates opponents.
f.e.
to overawe others by displaying one's strengthto gain the upper hand through a strong first move
Examples
- 先声夺人，。Zhè cì bǐsài tāmen xiān shēng duó rén, yì kāichǎng jiù jìn le liǎng ge qiú.In this match, they overawed the opponent by scoring two goals right at the start.
- 先声夺人，。Tánpàn zhōng tā xiān shēng duó rén, xiān tíchū le yí gè hěn gāo de yāoqiú.During the negotiation, he gained the upper hand by first making a very high demand.
- 先声夺人，。Xīn gōngsī yòng guǎnggào xiān shēng duó rén, xùnsù zhànlǐng le shìchǎng.The new company overawed competitors with its advertising and quickly captured the market.
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