射人先射马，擒贼先擒王射人先射馬，擒賊先擒王射人先射馬，擒賊先擒王

to shoot a rider, shoot the horse first; to catch bandits, catch the chief first

Saying俗语俗語

Proverb谚语諺語 · In everyday use

Meaning: To solve a problem, go for the key point or the leader first. Approving advice about strategy; close to 'cut off the head of the snake'.

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Simplified: 射人先射马，擒贼先擒王
Traditional (Taiwan): 射人先射馬，擒賊先擒王
Pinyin: shèrénxiānshèmǎ, qínzéixiānqínwáng
Bopomofo: ㄕㄜˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄢㄕㄜˋ ㄇㄚˇ，ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄢㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ

Words in this sentence

擒(qín)贼(zéi)先(xiān)擒(qín)王(wáng)

Where this sentence is used

Chinese sayings

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