天外有天
天外有天 (tiān wài yǒu tiān) literally means “skies beyond skies” and expresses “always someone better”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: tian wai you tian, tian wai you tian,天外有天 meaning, 天外有天 in english
Always someone better
Pronunciation: tiān wài yǒu tiān Literal meaning: Skies beyond skies
Origin & Usage
Beyond (外) the sky (天) there is another sky (天). It travels as half of a pair — 天外有天，人外有人, and beyond any person there is another person — and the second clause is what the first is for. The construction is deliberately recursive: no matter which sky you have reached, the sentence can be applied again. Its job is to puncture complacency, and it is most often said to somebody who has just won something.
Examples
English: "The champion was talented, but he knew there were even better players out there"
Chinese: 这位冠军很有天赋，但他知道还有更厉害的选手
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
别有洞天
bié yǒu dòng tiān
A hidden paradise; unexpected inner beauty
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坐井观天
zuò jǐng guān tiān
Judge with limited perspective
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巧夺天工
qiǎo duó tiān gōng
Craftsmanship beyond natural limits
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杞人忧天
qǐ rén yōu tiān
Worry needlessly about impossible disasters
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天衣无缝
tiān yī wú fèng
Flawless and perfectly seamless
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得天独厚
dé tiān dú hòu
Uniquely blessed with natural advantages
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天长地久
tiān cháng dì jiǔ
Everlasting; eternal
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破天荒
pò tiān huāng
For the first time ever; unprecedented
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 天外有天 mean in English?
天外有天 (tiān wài yǒu tiān) literally translates to “Skies beyond skies” and is used to express “Always someone better”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 天外有天 used?
Situation: The champion was talented, but he knew there were even better players out there
What is the pinyin for 天外有天?
The pinyin pronunciation for 天外有天 is “tiān wài yǒu tiān”.
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