いつ
鷸
ぼう
蚌
　
の
あらそ
争
　
い

expression, noun

Idiomatic expression.
  1. fight from which neither part benefits (but a third part does), a fight between the snipe and the clam (ends in the fisherman's profit).

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
いつ
鷸
ぼう
蚌
　
の
あらそ
争
　
い
 鷸蚌の争い いつぼうのあらそい

Contained Kanji Breakdown

kingfisher, snipe
イツ　しぎ (Kentei 1)
bore with awl, bright, charming
イツ　イチ　シュツ
bird, chicken
とり　チョウ　とっ (2nd, N4)
crow, raven
からす　ウ　オ (Kentei Pre-1)
fire, fire radical (no. 86)
ヒョウ　カ
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
clam
ボウ　ビョウ　はまぐり (Kentei 1)
insect, bug, temper
むし　チュウ　キ (1st, N2)
in, inside, middle
なか　チュウ　うち (1st, N5)
mouth
くち　コウ　ク (1st, N4)
number one, line, rod radical (no. 2)
コン　シ　ジョ
rising stroke
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
abundant, lush, bountiful
ホウ　フ　フウ
three
サン　み　みっ.つ (1st, N5)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
contend, dispute, argue
ソウ　あらそ.う　いか.でか (4th, N3)
knife, wrapping enclosure(勹) variant
snout, hand
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ　かぎ (Kentei 1)