物竞天择 (wù jìng tiān zé) — natural selection; survival of the fittest (as a biological principle); competition where only the strongest or most adaptable survive (extended metaphorical use)

Definition

Chengyu meaning 'natural selection / survival of the fittest', originally a biological principle from 严复's translation of Darwin. Often extended metaphorically to any competitive arena (markets, exams) where only the fittest survive.

idiom
natural selectionsurvival of the fittest (as a biological principle)competition where only the strongest or most adaptable survive (extended metaphorical use)

Examples

  • ，物竞天择。
    Zài jī liè de shì chǎng jìng zhēng zhōng, wù jìng tiān zé de fǎ zé wú chù bú zài.
    In fierce market competition, the principle of survival of the fittest is everywhere.
  • 物竞天择。
    wù jìng tiān zé Shì zì rán jiè jī běn de guī lǜ zhī yī.
    Natural selection is one of the fundamental laws of the natural world.
  • 物竞天择，。
    Zhè chǎng kǎo shì jiù xiàng wù jìng tiān zé de suō yǐng, zhǐ yǒu zuì nǔ lì de rén cái néng tōng guò.
    This exam is like a microcosm of survival of the fittest: only the hardest-working can pass.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
牛牛niú
Sound part声符shēngfú
勿
勿wù物wù
Same sound today

物 puts 牛 beside 勿: 牛 gives the meaning, and 勿 gives the sound.

Open 物 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 競; 竞 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 競 shows 誩 (argument) above two 儿 (men), as two individuals debating vigorously; the simplified 竞 is a later abbreviation.

Open 竞 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
大大dà
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng天tiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape comes from a frontal standing man 大 with a head; 天 pairs 大 with 丁 for sound.

Open 天 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 擇; 择 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
睪
睪yì擇zé
Same sound today

The traditional form 擇 has 手 (hand) for the meaning and 睪 for the sound; the simplified 择 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not historical.

Open 择 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.