鷸蚌相爭 yù bàng xiāng zhēng

two sides fight, a third side gains

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. lit. sandpiper and clam war together (and the fisherman catches both) (idiom); fig. neighbors who can't agree lose out to a third party

Characters

Character Meaning
鷸 yù
sandpiper; common snipe
蚌 bàng
clam; mussel
相 xiāng HSK 3
each other; one another; mutually
爭 zhēng
to strive for; to vie for; to argue or debate