身先士卒
身先士卒 (shēn xiān shì zú) literally means “lead by example” and expresses “leadership by action”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: shen xian shi zu, shen xian shi zu,身先士卒 meaning, 身先士卒 in english
Leadership by action
Pronunciation: shēn xiān shì zú Literal meaning: Lead by example
Origin & Usage
The idiom 身先士卒 (shēn xiān shì zú) originates from the historical text 《史记》 (Shǐjì) by Sima Qian, which recounts the valor of leaders who personally lead their troops into battle. A notable story involves Sun Fu during the Eastern Han period, who, in the battle for Lujiang, led his soldiers by example, charging ahead of them and inspiring his troops to fight courageously. The characters 身 (shēn) mean 'body' or 'self', 先 (xiān) means 'before' or 'ahead', 士 (shì) refers to 'soldiers', and 卒 (zú) means 'troops'. In modern usage, this idiom describes leaders who take initiative and lead by example, especially in challenging situations, motivating others through their actions.
Examples
English: "The general always leads from the front, inspiring his troops to follow his bravery."
Chinese: 这位将军总是身先士卒，激励他的士兵们跟随他的勇气。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
胸有成竹
xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
Have clear plan beforehand
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步步为营
bù bù wéi yíng
Advance methodically with caution
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退避三舍
tuì bì sān shè
Make concessions to avoid conflict
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旁敲侧击
páng qiāo cè jī
Approach indirectly to achieve goal
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暗度陈仓
àn dù chén cāng
Achieve secretly through misdirection
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釜底抽薪
fǔ dǐ chōu xīn
Eliminate root cause of problem
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推波助澜
tuī bō zhù lán
Amplifying existing trends or momentum
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鹬蚌相争
yù bàng xiāng zhēng
Mutual conflict benefits third party
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 身先士卒 mean in English?
身先士卒 (shēn xiān shì zú) literally translates to “Lead by example” and is used to express “Leadership by action”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 身先士卒 used?
Situation: The general always leads from the front, inspiring his troops to follow his bravery.
What is the pinyin for 身先士卒?
The pinyin pronunciation for 身先士卒 is “shēn xiān shì zú”.
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