yú yǔ xióng zhǎng

Translation

  • 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
  • you can't always get everything you want
  • you can't have your cake and eat it

Examples

  • 鱼与熊掌不可兼得。
    You cannot eat your cake and keep it.
Chinese Tones