旗开得胜

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: qí kāi dé shèng
• English Translation: To win victory as soon as the flag is unfurled (to get off to a flying start)
• Idiom Composition: 「旗」（A military flag or banner）＋「开」（To unfurl or deploy (the flag) to begin a battle）＋「得」（To obtain or achieve）＋「胜」（Victory）
• Meaning: Literally meaning to win a battle the moment the military flags are deployed. Figuratively, it refers to achieving immediate success or getting a favorable result right at the beginning of an undertaking.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「旗开得胜」 contains the following nuances:

• Victory in the Initial Stage: Rather than focusing on the entire process, this idiom specifically highlights success in the 'first step' or 'opening round' of an endeavor.
• Swift and Smooth Success: Because the 'unfurling of the flag' (the start) is immediately followed by 'victory,' the idiom implies that the success was achieved quickly and smoothly without a long, grueling struggle.

3. Usage

「旗开得胜」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Sports and Competitions: Used when a team wins the first game of a season or the opening match of a tournament. Frequently seen in news headlines.
  • Example:「中国女排在世界杯首场比赛中旗开得胜，以3比0击败对手。」
    （The Chinese women's volleyball team got off to a flying start in their first World Cup match, defeating their opponent 3-0.）
• Business and Projects: Used to celebrate when a new business venture or product launch yields better-than-expected results immediately.
  • Example:「我们的新产品刚上市就旗开得胜，第一天的销量突破了万台。」
    （Our new product achieved immediate success upon launch, with sales exceeding 10,000 units on the first day.）
• Encouragement and Well-wishing: Used to wish someone success before they start an exam, a negotiation, or a match.
  • Example:「祝你们明天的谈判旗开得胜，顺利签下合同！」
    （I wish you the best of luck and a successful start in tomorrow's negotiations; may you sign the contract smoothly!）

Additional Examples:

1. 这支年轻的队伍在奥运会上旗开得胜，极大地鼓舞了士气。
   （This young team won their opening match at the Olympics, which greatly boosted their morale.）
2. 为了讨个好彩头，大家都希望开业第一天能旗开得胜。
   （For good luck, everyone hopes the business can get off to a winning start on its opening day.）
3. 虽然我们旗开得胜，但后面的比赛依然不能掉以轻心。
   （Although we won the first battle, we still cannot afford to be careless in the upcoming matches.）
4. 他在股市投资上旗开得胜，第一次买股票就赚了不少。
   （He had a stroke of beginner's luck in the stock market, making a significant profit on the very first stock he bought.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The phrase appears in Yuan Dynasty dramas such as the play Shooting the Willow and Hitting the Ball (射柳捶丸). It has been used since ancient times to celebrate military triumphs.
• It is frequently used in the set phrase 旗开得胜，马到成功 (qí kāi dé shèng, mǎ dào chéng gōng), where the latter means 'success the moment the horse arrives.' Both are auspicious expressions for rapid victory.
• In modern usage, the term has shifted from military contexts to celebrate the 'first step' in sports, business, and even competitive entrance exams.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 马到成功 (mǎ dào chéng gōng): To achieve instant success the moment one arrives.
  • 首战告捷 (shǒu zhàn gào jié): To report a victory in the very first battle.
  • 一鼓作气 (yī gǔ zuò qì): To accomplish something in one vigorous effort.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 一触即溃 (yī chù jí kuì): To collapse at the first touch; to be so fragile that one loses without a fight.
  • 出师不利 (chū shī bù lì): To have a setback at the very beginning of a campaign or mission.
  • 一事无成 (yī shì wú chéng): To achieve nothing at all.link

6. Summary

旗开得胜 (qí kāi dé shèng) is a highly positive idiom used to describe an immediate win or success at the start of an event. It is commonly used in sports to describe winning an opening match, or in business for a successful launch. It is often paired with 马到成功 (mǎ dào chéng gōng) to wish someone swift and total success.