天外有天

tiānwàiyǒutiān

idiom

Meanings

1 beyond the sky there is another sky
2 there is always a higher realm — don't be complacent

Characters

outside / beyond

Examples

天外有天,人外有人,不要骄傲。

Tiān wài yǒu tiān, rén wài yǒu rén, bú yào jiāo'ào.

Beyond the sky is another sky, beyond people are other people — don't be arrogant.

这次输了才知道天外有天。

Zhè cì shū le cái zhīdào tiān wài yǒu tiān.

Only after losing this time did I realise there's always someone better.

Tips

history

Attested in the Dunhuang manuscript 《敦煌曲·何满子》 from the Tang: 金河一去路千千,欲到天边更有天 ('ten thousand li along the Gold River; just as you reach heaven's edge, another heaven opens'). Almost always paired with 人外有人.

Stroke Order

天 tiān

外 wài

有 yǒu