旗开得胜
旗开得胜 (qí kāi dé shèng) literally means “flag opens, obtain victory” and expresses “win at the very start; immediate success”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: qi kai de sheng, qi kai de sheng,旗开得胜 meaning, 旗开得胜 in english
Win at the very start; immediate success
Pronunciation: qí kāi dé shèng Literal meaning: Flag opens, obtain victory
Origin & Usage
The banners (旗) unfurled (开) and the victory (胜) taken (得). The picture is of an army winning its first engagement of a campaign, on the day the flags come out, so the phrase concerns the beginning rather than the whole. That is what makes it a blessing instead of a report: it is said before something starts, never after. Somebody going into an examination, a match or a first day is sent off with it, and it wishes for an early win specifically, on the theory that the rest then comes easier.
Examples
English: "The new product launch was immediately successful."
Chinese: 新产品发布旗开得胜。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
一帆风顺
yī fān fēng shùn
Smooth sailing; everything going well
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欣欣向荣
xīn xīn xiàng róng
Thriving; flourishing
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水到渠成
shuǐ dào qú chéng
Success comes naturally
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厚积薄发
hòu jī bó fā
Success after long preparation
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马到成功
mǎ dào chéng gōng
Achieve immediate success
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后来居上
hòu lái jū shàng
Latecomers surpass the early starters
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苦尽甘来
kǔ jìn gān lái
After hardship comes happiness
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步步高升
bù bù gāo shēng
Advance steadily; continuous promotion
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 旗开得胜 mean in English?
旗开得胜 (qí kāi dé shèng) literally translates to “Flag opens, obtain victory” and is used to express “Win at the very start; immediate success”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 旗开得胜 used?
Situation: The new product launch was immediately successful.
What is the pinyin for 旗开得胜?
The pinyin pronunciation for 旗开得胜 is “qí kāi dé shèng”.
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