






率马以骥 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to lead a group effectively by placing a highly capable individual in charge, thereby setting an excellent example and inspiring others to follow”. Literally, “Lead horses with a thoroughbred”.
During the Three Kingdoms period, Du Ji, who later became the Grand Administrator of Hedong in the Kingdom of Wei, was already known for his integrity as a county magistrate. He was incorruptible, never took bribes or bent the law, and was wholly devoted to serving the court and the common people.
Due to his excellent administrative achievements and reputation, he was promoted to Grand Administrator. He successfully quelled the Hedong rebellion and ensured a stable supply of military provisions for Cao Cao.
Cao Cao praised his achievements, likening his leadership to 'leading a group of horses with a thoroughbred,' emphasizing the importance of capable individuals in setting an example.

Picture and word Bingo for your class
Open the tool →
Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
Open the tool →
Chinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets
Open the tool →
Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
Open the tool →率马以骥 (shuài mǎ yǐ jì) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to lead a group effectively by placing a highly capable individual in charge, thereby setting an excellent example and inspiring others to follow”.
率马以骥 is pronounced shuài mǎ yǐ jì in Mandarin Chinese.
Literally, 率马以骥 means “Lead horses with a thoroughbred”. It is used to mean “to lead a group effectively by placing a highly capable individual in charge, thereby setting an excellent example and inspiring others to follow”.
率马以骥 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
用好马带领马群。比喻能者居先。