人外有人

rénwàiyǒurén

idiom

Meanings

1 beyond this person there is another
2 there is always someone better than you

Characters

outside / beyond

Examples

人外有人,山外有山,不能骄傲自满。

Rén wài yǒu rén, shān wài yǒu shān, bù néng jiāo'ào zìmǎn.

There's always someone better, always a higher mountain — don't be smug.

我赢了两场比赛,但我知道人外有人。

Wǒ yíng le liǎng chǎng bǐsài, dàn wǒ zhīdào rén wài yǒu rén.

I won two matches, but I know there's always someone stronger.

Tips

usage

Almost never stands alone — use with 天外有天 (there's always a higher sky) or 山外有山 (there's always a taller mountain) to make the full humility formula. A favourite closing line for martial-arts and business autobiographies.

Stroke Order

人 rén

外 wài

有 yǒu