鱼与熊掌不可兼得

yú yǔ xióng zhǎng bù kě jiān dé

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Definitions

  1. 1. lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius); fig. you must choose one or the other
  2. 2. you can't always get everything you want
  3. 3. you can't have your cake and eat it

Child Words of 鱼与熊掌不可兼得

不
bù

no; not so

兼
jiān

double

可
kě

can

得
dé

to obtain

得
de

structural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc

得
děi

to have to

熊
xióng

bear

与
yǔ

and

与
yù

to take part in

鱼
yú

fish

不可
bù kě

cannot; should not; must not

掌
zhǎng

palm of the hand

熊掌
xióng zhǎng

bear paw (as food)

鱼与熊掌
yú yǔ xióng zhǎng

lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius); fig. you must choose one or the other