又要馬兒跑，又要馬兒不吃草 yòu yào mǎ r pǎo ， yòu yào mǎ r bù chī cǎo

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. you can't expect the horse to run fast but not let it graze (idiom)
  2. fig. you can't have your cake and eat it, too

CHARACTERS

又 yòu
HSK 3
and, also, again, in addition
要 yào
HSK 2
necessary, essential; necessity
馬 mǎ horse; surname; KangXi radical 187
兒 r son, child, oneself; final part
跑 pǎo
HSK 2
run, flee, leave in hurry
又 yòu
HSK 3
and, also, again, in addition
要 yào
HSK 2
necessary, essential; necessity
馬 mǎ horse; surname; KangXi radical 187
兒 r son, child, oneself; final part
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
吃 chī
HSK 1
eat; drink; suffer, endure, bear
草 cǎo
HSK 3
grass, straw, thatch, herbs