后发制人
后发制人 (hòu fā zhì rén) literally means “act later to control others” and expresses “let them commit, then move”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: hou fa zhi ren, hou fa zhi ren,后发制人 meaning, 后发制人 in english
Let them commit, then move
Pronunciation: hòu fā zhì rén Literal meaning: Act later to control others
Origin & Usage
Xunzi's chapter on warfare contains the counter-doctrine: move later (后发) and arrive before. Where 先发制人 claims the advantage of tempo, this claims the advantage of information — let the other side commit, spend itself, and reveal its shape, then move once against a target that has stopped moving. It is not passivity, and translating it as patience undersells it. The waiting is instrumental, and the phrase implies that the moment to act has been identified rather than merely awaited.
Examples
English: "After facing criticism, she adapted her strategy and turned the situation around."
Chinese: 在遭遇批评后，她后发制人，调整了策略。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
先发制人
xiān fā zhì rén
Seize initiative
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出奇制胜
chū qí zhì shèng
Unexpected strategy
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因地制宜
yīn dì zhì yí
Tailor to circumstances
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后顾之忧
hòu gù zhī yōu
Worry about the home front left behind
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后生可畏
hòu shēng kě wèi
Youthful potential
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承前启后
chéng qián qǐ hòu
Linking tradition with innovation
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争先恐后
zhēng xiān kǒng hòu
Rush eagerly to be first, not last
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后来居上
hòu lái jū shàng
Latecomers surpass the early starters
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 后发制人 mean in English?
后发制人 (hòu fā zhì rén) literally translates to “Act later to control others” and is used to express “Let them commit, then move”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 后发制人 used?
Situation: After facing criticism, she adapted her strategy and turned the situation around.
What is the pinyin for 后发制人?
The pinyin pronunciation for 后发制人 is “hòu fā zhì rén”.