Proverb / Kotowaza
鷸蚌の争い
When two parties engage in a pointless conflict, a third party steps in and takes the profits.
the fight between a snipe and a clam
Quick Answer
When two parties engage in a pointless conflict, a third party steps in and takes the profits.
- Literal Image
- the fight between a snipe and a clam
- How to Use It
- Used to warn people or groups that their ongoing conflict will only benefit an opportunistic third party, urging them to cooperate instead.
Meaning
This proverb warns against engaging in futile disputes, originally referring to conflicts between small nations. If two sides fight each other endlessly, both will be weakened and end up falling together when a third party takes advantage of their distraction.
Literal Image
the fight between a snipe and a clam
How to Use It
Used to warn people or groups that their ongoing conflict will only benefit an opportunistic third party, urging them to cooperate instead.
Tone
Cautionary and critical.
Examples
二つの大企業が争う間に新興勢力が台頭した。鷸蚌の争いだ。
An emerging power gained prominence while the two major corporations were fighting. It's the fight of the snipe and the clam.
兄弟が遺産を巡って争っている隙に、第三者に利益を持っていかれた。鷸蚌の争いとはこのことだ。
While the siblings were busy fighting over the inheritance, a third party ran off with the profits. This is exactly what the fight of the snipe and the clam is about.
鷸蚌の争いを避け、共通の敵に対して協力すべきだ。
We should avoid fighting like the snipe and the clam, and instead cooperate against our enemy.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Contains the highly obscure kanji 鷸 (snipe) and 蚌 (clam), which are mostly known only through this classical proverb.
鷸蚌
いつぼう / itsubo
snipe and clam
争い
あらそい / arasoi
conflict or dispute
Usage Profile
Usage note: Can be used in political, corporate, or historical contexts to describe mutually destructive conflicts.
Misread Risk
Do not use it to describe a healthy debate or competition; it strictly refers to a pointless conflict that leads to mutual downfall.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.