Wisdom Interesting

射人先射马，擒贼先擒王

shè rén xiān shè mǎ, qín zéi xiān qín wáng

To shoot a man, first shoot his horse; to capture bandits, first capture their leader.

Literal translation

Shoot person first shoot horse, capture thief first capture king.

What it means

This strategy advises focusing on the key element or leader ...

This strategy advises focusing on the key element or leader of a problem first. By removing the main obstacle or authority, the rest becomes easier to handle.

Cultural context

This is from Du Fu's poetry, a Tang dynasty classic. It is often used in business, military strategy, and even personal challenges to emphasize prioritization.

When Chinese people say this

Someone might say this when planning a negotiation, advising to target the decision-maker, or when solving a complex problem by identifying the root cause.

Why Chinese people say this

It reflects a pragmatic, results-oriented mindset. Chinese culture values strategic thinking, and this saying encapsulates the idea of efficiency—strike at the heart of the matter.

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