鹬蚌相争
鹬蚌相争 (yù bàng xiāng zhēng) literally means “snipe clam mutual fight” and expresses “mutual conflict benefits third party”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: yu bang xiang zheng, yu bang xiang zheng,鹬蚌相争 meaning, 鹬蚌相争 in english
Mutual conflict benefits third party
Pronunciation: yù bàng xiāng zhēng Literal meaning: Snipe clam mutual fight
Origin & Usage
A snipe stabbed at the flesh of an open clam and the shell closed on its beak. Neither would let go: no rain today or tomorrow, said the bird, and you are a dead clam; no release today or tomorrow, said the clam, and you are a dead bird. A fisherman walking the bank took both. Su Dai told the story to the King of Zhao to argue him out of attacking Yan, with Qin as the fisherman, and the Strategies of the Warring States records it. The saying is nearly always given whole: 鹬蚌相争，渔翁得利 — while snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits.
Examples
English: "While the two companies were locked in legal battles, a third competitor captured their market share"
Chinese: 当这两家公司陷入法律战时，第三个竞争对手占领了他们的市场份额
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
针锋相对
zhēn fēng xiāng duì
Sharp, direct confrontation in argument
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釜底抽薪
fǔ dǐ chōu xīn
Eliminate root cause of problem
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两虎相争
liǎng hǔ xiāng zhēng
Fierce competition between equals
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步步为营
bù bù wéi yíng
Advance methodically with caution
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暗度陈仓
àn dù chén cāng
Achieve secretly through misdirection
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枕戈待旦
zhěn gē dài dàn
Maintain high vigilance awaiting challenge
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按图索骥
àn tú suǒ jì
Rigidly following outdated methods
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争分夺秒
zhēng fēn duó miǎo
Race against time; make every second count
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 鹬蚌相争 mean in English?
鹬蚌相争 (yù bàng xiāng zhēng) literally translates to “Snipe clam mutual fight” and is used to express “Mutual conflict benefits third party”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 鹬蚌相争 used?
Situation: While the two companies were locked in legal battles, a third competitor captured their market share
What is the pinyin for 鹬蚌相争?
The pinyin pronunciation for 鹬蚌相争 is “yù bàng xiāng zhēng”.
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