寸土必争
cùn tǔ bì zhēng
to fight for every inch of ground
Character by character
寸cùn
inch
inch
土tǔ
soil
soil
必bì
must
must
争zhēng
fight for
fight for
Example
在这片市场上，几家外卖平台寸土必争，谁也不肯让一步。
In this market the delivery platforms fight over every inch, and none will give way.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Of defending territory it is firm and patriotic (领土问题上寸土必争); in business and sport it describes fierce competition. 寸土不让 (yield not an inch) is a close synonym.
Learn this in Lesson 204 · HSK 7–9: 雅克萨与尼布楚 (Albazin and Nerchinsk)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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