成则为王，败则为寇

chéng zé wéi wáng , bài zé wéi kòu

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Definitions

  1. 1. lit. called a king if successful, called a bandit if defeated (idiom)
  2. 2. fig. losers are always in the wrong

Child Words of 成则为王，败则为寇

则
zé

(literary) (conjunction used to express contrast with a previous clause) but; then

成
chéng

to succeed

败
bài

to defeat

为
wéi

as (in the capacity of)

为
wèi

because of

王
wáng

king or monarch

王
wàng

to rule

寇
kòu

to invade