成王败寇 chéng wáng bài kòu

winners are kings, losers are outlaws

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. see 成則為王，成则为王，败则为寇[cheng2 ze2 wei2 wang2 , bai4 ze2 wei2 kou4]

Characters

Character Meaning
成 chéng HSK 3
to become; to succeed; to complete
王 wáng HSK 5
surname Wang; king or monarch
败 bài HSK 4
to fail; to lose (to an opponent); to defeat
寇 kòu
bandit; to invade; to plunder