# 马首是瞻

mǎ shǒu shì zhān

Follow someone’s lead as one’s guide

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Look toward the horse’s head

**Traditional Chinese:** 馬首是瞻

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe taking direction from a leader or leading organization.

Can imply excessive obedience; it is stronger than occasional advice.

## Understanding the expression

Watching a leading horse’s head tells followers which way to move. The expression turns that coordinated movement into a model of leadership and obedience. A team may take one person’s decisions as its guide, or smaller organizations may follow a larger one’s strategy. Depending on context, this can sound respectful or critical. Following a leader does not guarantee good judgment; the phrase describes where direction comes from, not whether that direction is wise.

## Examples

大家以队长马首是瞻。

### Traditional Chinese

大家以隊長馬首是瞻。

dà jiā yǐ duì zhǎng mǎ shǒu shì zhān 。

Everyone followed the captain’s lead.

小厂不能总以大公司马首是瞻。

### Traditional Chinese

小廠不能總以大公司馬首是瞻。

xiǎo chǎng bù néng zǒng yǐ dà gōng sī mǎ shǒu shì zhān 。

Small factories cannot always take major companies as their sole guide.

这次行动，我们以她马首是瞻。

### Traditional Chinese

這次行動，我們以她馬首是瞻。

zhè cì xíng dòng ， wǒ men yǐ tā mǎ shǒu shì zhān 。

For this operation, we will follow her lead.

他不愿事事以老板马首是瞻。

### Traditional Chinese

他不願事事以老闆馬首是瞻。

tā bú yuàn shì shì yǐ lǎo bǎn mǎ shǒu shì zhān 。

He did not want to follow the boss unquestioningly in everything.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%A6%AC%E9%A6%96%E6%98%AF%E7%9E%BB)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=714&webMd=1&la=0)

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