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)
fire, fire radical (no. 86)
ヒョウ　カ
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)