鱼与熊掌不可兼得

Traditional form:

魚與熊掌不可兼得

Pinyin (reading):

yúyǔxióngzhǎngbùkějiāndé

Definitions:

• 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

Characters:

• 鱼 - fish
• 与 - and; with; to; for; to give, to grant
• 熊 - a bear; brilliant; surname
• 掌 - in charge; the palm of the hand, the sole of the foot
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 可 - may, can, -able; possibly
• 兼 - both, and; at the same time; to unite, to combine
• 得 - to obtain, to get, to acquire; suitable, proper; ready

Traditional characters:

• 魚 - fish
• 與 - and; with; to; for; to give, to grant
• 熊 - a bear; brilliant; surname
• 掌 - in charge; the palm of the hand, the sole of the foot
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 可 - may, can, -able; possibly
• 兼 - both, and; at the same time; to unite, to combine
• 得 - to obtain, to get, to acquire; suitable, proper; ready