成則為王，敗則為寇 chéng zé wéi wáng ， bài zé wéi kòu

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. called a king if successful, called a bandit if defeated (idiom)
  2. fig. losers are always in the wrong

CHARACTERS

成 chéng
HSK 3
completed, finished, fixed
則 zé rule, law, regulation; grades
為 wéi do, handle, govern, act; be
王 wáng
HSK 5
king, ruler; royal; surname
敗 bài be defeated, decline, fail
則 zé rule, law, regulation; grades
為 wéi do, handle, govern, act; be
寇 kòu bandits, thieves; enemy; invade