Definition
先拔头筹 is a four-character idiom (chengyu) that literally means 'to be the first to pull the tally' — drawing on an ancient practice where winning competitors would pull their tally first. In modern usage, it means 'to take the lead' or 'to be the first to achieve success,' often in competitions, business, or any race-like scenario. It functions as a verb phrase and emphasizes being ahead of rivals.
v
to take the leadto be the first to succeed (in a competitive context)
Examples
- 先拔头筹,。Zhè jiā gōngsī zài réngōng zhìnéng lǐngyù xiān bá tóu chóu, yíngdé le dàliàng tóuzī.This company took the lead in the field of AI and won a lot of investment.
- 先拔头筹,。Tā zài bǐsài zhōng xiān bá tóu chóu, dì-yī ge chōng guò le zhōngdiǎnxiàn.He took the lead in the race and was the first to cross the finish line.
- 先拔头筹,。Wèile xiān bá tóu chóu, tuánduì rì yè bù tíng de yánfā xīn chǎnpǐn.In order to take the lead, the team developed new products day and night without stopping.
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