鹬蚌相争

鷸蚌相爭

yùbàngxiāngzhēng

idiom

Meanings

1 the snipe and the clam wrestle each other
2 when two rivals quarrel, a third party reaps the benefit

Characters

snipe (wading bird)

to fight / contend

Examples

鹬蚌相争，渔翁得利，我们不要让对手渔翁得利。

Yùbàngxiāngzhēng, yúwēng délì, wǒmen bùyào ràng duìshǒu yúwēng délì.

When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman wins — do not let the rival play the fisherman.

这两家公司斗得太激烈，当心鹬蚌相争让第三方得利。

Zhè liǎng jiā gōngsī dòu de tài jīliè, dāngxīn yùbàngxiāngzhēng ràng dì-sān fāng délì.

These two companies are locked in a fierce fight — watch out for a third party benefiting.

Tips

history

From 《战国策·燕策》: Zhao was about to attack Yan. The strategist Su Dai told King Hui of Zhao a fable — a snipe tried to eat a clam, the clam clamped shut on its beak, neither would let go, and a passing fisherman caught them both. The moral: if Zhao and Yan exhaust each other, powerful Qin will sweep them up. Zhao called off the attack.

Stroke Order

鹬 yù

蚌 bàng

相 xiāng

争 zhēng