有言在先

yǒuyánzàixiān

to make it clear beforehand; to forewarn

Wiktionary

Entry Composition

=1 有 yǒu
  1. to have; there is
  2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 yǒuyì intentional)
=1 有 yòu
  1. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 又 (yòu, “again”)
  2. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 又 (yòu, “and; with a remainder of (when dividing an integer by ten)”)
  3. alternative form of 又 (yòu, “again”)
  4. alternative form of 又 (yòu, “and; with a remainder of (when dividing an integer by ten)”)
2 言 yán
  1. words
  2. speech
  3. to say
  4. to talk
3 在先 zàixiān
  1. to come first
  2. previous
  3. prior
  4. beforehand
  5. first
  6. formerly