kam4 caak6 sin1 kam4 wong4擒賊先擒王擒贼先擒王
Jyutpingkam4 caak6 sin1 kam4 wong4
Yalekàhm chaahk sīn kàhm wòhng
Definition
To capture the ringleader in order to defeat the rest; to strike at the head of an enemy force.
colloquialworkother
How it's used
This idiom is frequently applied to business or organizational settings where solving a complex issue requires addressing the root cause or the person in charge. It carries a strategic, slightly tactical tone that implies efficiency by avoiding unnecessary conflict with secondary parties. It is not limited to physical combat but is a common metaphor for project management and negotiation.
Examples
If you want to solve this problem, you should target the leader first.
They used the strategy of capturing the leader first and won very quickly.
Related words
Common phrases
the strategy of capturing the leader first
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal instruction to capture someone, but it is almost always used figuratively in modern speech. Avoid using it in casual, low-stakes situations where it might sound overly dramatic or aggressive.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
