身先士卒 — “To take the lead”

身先士卒 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to take the lead”. To set an example by charging ahead of one's subordinates; to personally lead the way. Literally, “body ahead of soldiers”.

Frequency

身先士卒 Pronunciation and Pinyin

身先士卒 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
身	shēn	7	body, person, life, self
先	xiān	6	First, before, or ancestors
士	shì	3	scholar, gentleman, soldier
卒	zú	8	soldier, die, finish, finally

Example Sentence with 身先士卒

在这次社区志愿者活动中，队长身先士卒，亲自搬运物资，带动了所有队员的热情。

In this community volunteer event, the team leader took the lead, personally moving supplies, which inspired the enthusiasm of all team members.

Origin and Story of 身先士卒

In 1883, the French army attacked China from the Vietnamese border. General Feng Zicai was ordered to defend Zhennan Pass with his troops.

Facing the well-equipped French forces, Feng Zicai showed no fear. He actively prepared for battle, vowing to live and die with Zhennan Pass.

His soldiers were deeply moved and fought valiantly. Feng Zicai himself led from the front, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the French army, ultimately defeating them.