鹬蚌相争，渔人获利 — “The snipe and the clam grapple, and the fisherman profits”
鹬蚌相争，渔人获利 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “When two parties are engaged in a fierce dispute, they both suffer losses, and a third party takes advantage of their conflict; often translated as 'the snipe and the clam grapple, and the fisherman profits.' It serves as a warning against engaging in pointless conflicts that only benefit others”. Literally, “The snipe and the clam grapple, and the fisherman profits”.
鹬蚌相争，渔人获利 Pronunciation and Pinyin
鹬蚌相争，渔人获利 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 鹬蚌相争，渔人获利
Origin and Story of 鹬蚌相争，渔人获利
During the Warring States period, the State of Zhao was preparing to attack the State of Yan. The King of Yan sent Su Dai to Zhao to persuade the King of Zhao not to wage war.
Su Dai told a story: A clam had just opened its shell to sunbathe by the riverbank when a snipe came along and tried to eat its soft flesh. The clam quickly snapped its shell shut, trapping the snipe's long beak.
The snipe declared, "If it doesn't rain today and it doesn't rain tomorrow, there will be a dead clam here." The clam retorted, "If your beak doesn't come out today and it doesn't come out tomorrow, there will be a dead snipe here."
As they continued to struggle, neither willing to give way, an old fisherman happened upon them and easily caught both the snipe and the clam.
Su Dai then explained that if Yan and Zhao went to war, both states would be weakened, and the powerful State of Qin would be like the fisherman, easily conquering both Yan and Zhao.
Hearing this, the King of Zhao abandoned his plan to attack Yan.
Idioms Related to 鹬蚌相争，渔人获利
Synonyms of 鹬蚌相争，渔人获利
More idioms starting with 鹬
- yù鹬bàng蚌chí持zhēng争，，yú渔wēng翁dé得lì利third party profits from others' conflict
- yù鹬bàng蚌xiāng相zhēng争third party benefits from two parties' conflict
- yù鹬bàng蚌xiāng相zhēng争，，zuò坐shōu收yú渔wēng翁zhī之lì利third party profits from a dispute
- yù鹬bàng蚌xiāng相wēi危rivals' dispute benefits a third party
- yù鹬bàng蚌xiāng相chí持Standoff benefits a third party
- yù鹬bàng蚌xiāng相chí持，，yú渔rén人dé得lì利Third party profits from two parties' dispute
- yù鹬bàng蚌xiāng相chí持，，yú渔wēng翁dé得lì利Third party profits from two rivals' fight
- yù鹬bàng蚌xiāng相dòu斗third party benefits from two parties fighting
Recommended tools
Bingo Cards
Picture and word Bingo for your class
Open the tool →
Character Highlight Animator
Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
Open the tool →
Stroke Order Animator
Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
Open the tool →
Writing Worksheets
Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
Open the tool →Questions about 鹬蚌相争，渔人获利
What does 鹬蚌相争，渔人获利 mean?
鹬蚌相争，渔人获利 (yù bàng xiāng zhēng ， yú rén huò lì) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “When two parties are engaged in a fierce dispute, they both suffer losses, and a third party takes advantage of their conflict; often translated as 'the snipe and the clam grapple, and the fisherman profits.' It serves as a warning against engaging in pointless conflicts that only benefit others”.
How do you pronounce 鹬蚌相争，渔人获利?
鹬蚌相争，渔人获利 is pronounced yù bàng xiāng zhēng ， yú rén huò lì in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 鹬蚌相争，渔人获利 literally mean?
Literally, 鹬蚌相争，渔人获利 means “the snipe and the clam grapple, and the fisherman profits”. It is used to mean “When two parties are engaged in a fierce dispute, they both suffer losses, and a third party takes advantage of their conflict; often translated as 'the snipe and the clam grapple, and the fisherman profits.' It serves as a warning against engaging in pointless conflicts that only benefit others”.
Where does 鹬蚌相争，渔人获利 come from?
鹬蚌相争，渔人获利 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 鹬蚌相争，渔人获利?
鹬：长嘴水鸟；蚌：有贝壳的软体动物。比喻双方争执不下，两败俱伤，让第三者占了便宜