Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
成则为王,败则为寇
成则为王,败则为寇
成则为王,败则为寇
成则为王,败则为寇
成则为王,败则为寇
成则为王,败则为寇
成则为王,败则为寇
成则为王,败则为寇

成则为王,败则为寇 — “Success determines legitimacy and status”

成则为王,败则为寇 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Success determines legitimacy and status”. The victor is hailed, the vanquished condemned, often implying that history is written by the winners. Literally, “Succeed then be king, fail then be bandit”.

Frequency

成则为王,败则为寇 Pronunciation and Pinyin

成则为王,败则为寇 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
成
chéng7to become or succeed
则
zé6then, in that case
为
wèi4to be or to do
王
wáng4king, ruler, prince, chief
,,—
败
bài8lose, fail, defeat, ruin
则
zé6then, in that case
为
wèi4to be or to do
寇
kòu11bandits or invaders

Example Sentence with 成则为王,败则为寇

在这次激烈的市场竞争中,大家都明白成则为王,败则为寇,因此每个人都倾尽全力,争取最好的结果。
In this fierce market competition, everyone understands that success means glory and failure means being cast aside, so everyone is putting in their utmost effort to achieve the best outcome.

Idioms Related to 成则为王,败则为寇

Synonyms of 成则为王,败则为寇

  • chéng成wáng王bài败kòu寇victors become kings, vanquished become bandits

More idioms starting with 成

  • chéng成yī一jiā家yán言form one's own school of thought
  • chéng成yě也xiāo萧hé何bài败xiāo萧hé何success and failure from the same source
  • chéng成yě也xiāo萧hé何,,bài败yě也xiāo萧hé何success and failure due to the same person
  • chéng成shì事bù不shuō说Do not comment on what is done
  • chéng成shì事bù不zú足,,huài坏shì事yǒu有yú余more apt to spoil than succeed
  • chéng成shì事bù不zú足,,bài败shì事yǒu有yú余more likely to spoil than succeed
  • chéng成rén人bù不zì自zai在,,zì自zai在bù不chéng成rén人No pain, no gain
  • chéng成rén人zhī之shàn善help others achieve good
  • chéng成rén人zhī之měi美Help others achieve their goals
  • chéng成rén仁qǔ取yì义sacrifice life for righteousness
  • chéng成hé何tǐ体tǒng统How improper! What an outrage!
  • chéng成fó佛zuò作zǔ祖achieve outstanding accomplishments

Recommended tools

Stroke Order Animator

Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4

Open the tool →

Picture Worksheets

Chinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Open the tool →

Bingo Cards

Picture and word Bingo for your class

Open the tool →

Chinese Text Image Generator

Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes

Open the tool →

Questions about 成则为王,败则为寇

What does 成则为王,败则为寇 mean?

成则为王,败则为寇 (chéng zé wèi wáng , bài zé wèi kòu) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Success determines legitimacy and status”.

How do you pronounce 成则为王,败则为寇?

成则为王,败则为寇 is pronounced chéng zé wèi wáng , bài zé wèi kòu in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 成则为王,败则为寇 literally mean?

Literally, 成则为王,败则为寇 means “Succeed then be king, fail then be bandit”. It is used to mean “Success determines legitimacy and status”.

What is the Chinese definition of 成则为王,败则为寇?

旧指在争夺政权斗争中,成功了的就是合法的,称帝称王;失败了的就是非法的,被称为寇贼。含有成功者权势在手,无人敢责难,失败者却有口难辩的意思。

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us