tiền trảm hậu tấu

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 前斬後奏. Compare Chinese 先斬後奏／先斩后奏 (tiên trảm hậu tấu).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [tiən˨˩ t͡ɕaːm˧˩ həw˧˨ʔ təw˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [tiəŋ˦˩ ʈaːm˧˨ həw˨˩ʔ təw˨˩˦]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [tiəŋ˨˩ ʈaːm˨˩˦ həw˨˩˨ təw˦˥]

Verb

tiền trảm hậu tấu

1. (literal) to chop heads first and report later to the authority
2. (figurative) to proceed first and ask or report to the responsible party later

   Nó không có ở đây, thôi thì ta cứ tiền trảm hậu tấu.

   She's not here, we might as well just do it and tell her later.