两虎相争
两虎相争 (liǎng hǔ xiāng zhēng) literally means “two tigers fight” and expresses “fierce competition between equals”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: liang hu xiang zheng, liang hu xiang zheng,两虎相争 meaning, 两虎相争 in english
Fierce competition between equals
Pronunciation: liǎng hǔ xiāng zhēng
Literal meaning: Two tigers fight
Origin & Usage
The image of two (两) tigers (虎) fighting (相争) comes from ancient observations of territorial conflicts, documented in early Chinese zoological texts. The original context appears in strategic texts discussing how such conflicts inevitably result in injury to both parties. The phrase gained prominence during the Warring States period as a metaphor for mutually destructive conflict between powerful states. Contemporary usage warns against destructive competition, particularly in business or politics, where fierce rivalry can damage both parties while benefiting opportunistic observers.
Examples
English: "When the two star players fought for team leadership, it damaged team morale and performance"
Chinese: 当两位明星球员争夺队伍领导权时，损害了团队士气和表现
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一帆风顺
yī fān fēng shùn
Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
Learn more →
千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
Learn more →
民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
Learn more →
国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
Learn more →
太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
Learn more →
四海升平
sì hǎi shēng píng
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
Learn more →
安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
Learn more →
故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 两虎相争 mean in English?
两虎相争 (liǎng hǔ xiāng zhēng) literally translates to “Two tigers fight” and is used to express “Fierce competition between equals”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 两虎相争 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving fierce competition between equals.
What is the pinyin for 两虎相争?
The pinyin pronunciation for 两虎相争 is “liǎng hǔ xiāng zhēng”.