Shé tūn shǔ, yīng diāo shé; yī wù xiáng yī wù.

蛇吞鼠, 鷹叼蛇, 一物降一物。

Lit Snakes swallow rats [and] eagles hold snakes in their mouths; there is always one thing to conquer another.

Fig Everything has its vanquisher.

Note [Note: this entire proverb may be used as a xiehouyu; the second part is commonly used alone; see also néngrén zhīwài and qiáng zhōng háiyǒu and rén wài yǒu rén and shān wài yǒu shān above and yī wù xiáng yī wù below.]

Topics ABILITY COMPETITION LIMITATIONS STRENGTH xiehouyu