| 先礼后兵 |
xiān lǐ - hòu bīng |
lit. peaceful measures before using force (idiom) / fig. diplomacy before violence; jaw-jaw is better than war-war |
| 先 |
xiān |
beforehand; first; earlier / at first; originally / for the time being; for now / (prefix) my late (in referring to deceased relatives older than oneself) |
| 礼 |
Lǐ |
surname Li / abbr. for 礼记, Classic of Rites |
| 礼 |
lǐ |
gift / rite / ceremony / CL:份 / propriety / etiquette / courtesy |
| 后 |
Hòu |
surname Hou |
| 后 |
hòu |
empress / queen / (archaic) monarch / ruler |
| 后 |
hòu |
back / behind / rear / afterwards / after / later / post- |
| 兵 |
bīng |
soldiers / a force / an army / weapons / arms / military / warlike / CL:个 |