📖 Meaning
To boldly take the lead and bear heavy responsibility, charging ahead of others. It describes someone who steps forward courageously to head a difficult task. Equivalent in spirit to 'striving to be first in bravery.'
📜 Origin Story
The idiom appears in the Yuan dynasty play 'Wu Yuan Chui Xiao' (The Flute of Wu Yuan) by Li Shouqing. In the fourth act, the line praises the ministers and the assassin Zhuan Zhu (鏄诸) for daring to take the lead, without whom the present outcome could not have been achieved. The play dramatizes the story of Wu Zixu (伍员) of the Spring and Autumn period, who endured exile and hardship before finally avenging himself. The idiom was later reused in the Ming dynasty anonymous play 'Zi Ni Xuan' (The Purple Clay Writ), where it is applied to men who ride warhorses and fearlessly lead the charge.
💡 Example Usage
在这项艰巨任务面前，他敢勇当先，主动挑起重担。
In the face of this difficult task, he boldly took the lead and shouldered the burden on his own initiative.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 敢勇当先
- Pinyin: gǎn yǒng dāng xiān
- Literal Translation: dare, brave, be, first
- Category: Leadership
- Characters: 4