爾虞我詐 ěr yú wǒ zhà

each tries to outwit the other

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. each tries to outwit the other
  2. 2. lit. you hoodwink me and I cheat you (idiom); fig. mutual deception
  3. 3. dog eats dog and devil take the hindmost

Characters

Character Meaning
爾 ěr
variant of 爾ěr; so; thus
虞 yú
surname Yu; to worry; to anticipate
我 wǒ HSK 1
I; me; my
詐 zhà
to cheat; to swindle; to pretend