dǎ打hitcǎo草grassjīng惊startleshé蛇snake
To alert the enemy by a rash act; to beat the grass and startle the snake.
Literal meaning
hit (打) — grass (草) — startle (惊) — snake (蛇)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase advising caution to avoid alerting the target.
Examples
wǒ我men们xiān先àn暗zhōng中diào调chá查，bù不yào要dǎ打cǎo草jīng惊shé蛇。
Let's investigate secretly first, and not alert the enemy.
rú如guǒ果nǐ你zhí直jiē接wèn问tā他，kě可néng能huì会dǎ打cǎo草jīng惊shé蛇。
If you ask him directly, you might alert the enemy.
Usage & nuances
Emphasizes the importance of stealth and discretion.
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