后来居上

Phát âm: hòu lái jū shàng Nghĩa đen: Latecomers end up on top

Nguồn gốc & Cách sử dụng

This idiom originates from 'Records of the Grand Historian' (史记), describing how later (后来) officials often rose (居上) to higher positions than their predecessors. The phrase was used by Emperor Wu of Han's advisor to explain why recently appointed ministers sometimes outranked senior ones. It suggests that timing of entry does not determine ultimate success. Modern usage celebrates underdogs and late starters who surpass early leaders through superior effort or strategy, particularly relevant in competitive markets and sports.

Khi nào sử dụng

Tình huống: The startup that entered the market last became the industry leader.

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