xiān先firstzhǎn斩beheadhòu后afterzòu奏report
To first act and then report; to act without prior authorization but seek approval afterwards.
Literal meaning
first (先) — behead (斩) — after (后) — report (奏)
Origin
Describes a situation where someone takes action first and then reports it to their superiors. A classical four-character phrase.
Examples
qíng情kuàng况jǐn紧jí急，tā他zhī只néng能xiān先zhǎn斩hòu后zòu奏le了。
The situation was urgent, so he could only act first and then report it.
zhè这zhǒng种xiān先zhǎn斩hòu后zòu奏de的zuò做fǎ法shì是bù不bèi被yǔn允xǔ许de的。
This kind of practice of acting first and then reporting is not allowed.
Usage & nuances
Can be neutral or negative, depending on whether the action was justified.
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