Dǎsǐ mài quán de; yānsǐ huìshuǐ de.

打死賣拳的, 淹死會水的。

Lit [It is the] professional boxer [who gets] beaten to death [and it is the] good swimmer [who] drowns.

Fig An able person often fails because of carelessness or negligence. Even an expert can be taken in.

Note [See also shàn yóu zhě nì below.]

Topics BOXING CARELESSNESS NEGLIGENCE SWIMMING