胜者王侯败者寇 shèng zhě wáng hóu bài zhě kòu

DEFINITIONS

  1. the winners become princes and marquises; the losers are vilified as bandits (idiom)
  2. history is written by the victors

CHARACTERS

胜 shèng
HSK 5
victory; excel, be better than
者 zhě
HSK 3
that which; he who; those who
王 wáng
HSK 5
king, ruler; royal; surname
侯 hóu marquis, lord; target in archery
败 bài
HSK 4
be defeated, decline, fail
者 zhě
HSK 3
that which; he who; those who
寇 kòu bandits, thieves; enemy; invade