Chinese idiom · 成语
先声夺人
Meaning
First sound overpowers; preempting with impact.
Character by character
Origin and story
Historical accountThe Zuo Commentary, Duke Xuan's twelfth year, describes tension between the Jin and Chu armies. When Chu fears an approaching threat, Sunshu Ao urges a rapid advance rather than waiting to be attacked. He cites a military maxim saying that acting first can seize an opponent's resolve. The troops then rush forward.
That longer maxim, also quoted elsewhere in the Zuo Commentary, is an antecedent rather than the exact idiom. The later wording emphasizes the intimidating effect of one's initial impact or reputation, and appears in novels such as Sui Tang Yan Yi. In everyday use, it can describe gaining the upper hand through a powerful opening.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
辩论一开始，她就用清楚的数据先声夺人。
Right at the start of the debate, she gained the upper hand with clear data.
A strong opening that establishes an advantage, not merely being the first to speak.