Looking up...
cá lớn ăn cá bé
/kaː lɔn ʔan kaː ɓe/◆proverb
the strong exploit the weak
Trong kinh doanh, cá lớn ăn cá bé là một thực tế khó tránh.
In business, the strong exploiting the weak is an unavoidable reality.
informal
A proverb describing how powerful entities (people, companies, or systems) take advantage of weaker ones, often through unfair means.
Cá lớn ăn cá bé trong ngành công nghiệp này đã khiến nhiều doanh nghiệp nhỏ phải đóng cửa.
The big fish eating the small fish in this industry has forced many small businesses to shut down.
This proverb reflects the harsh reality of competition and power dynamics in society and business.
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Cultural Context
This proverb is widely used in Vietnamese culture to describe power imbalances and exploitation, often in business or political contexts.
Gold Rule
Usage in Business
This phrase is commonly used to describe corporate monopolies or unfair competition where larger companies dominate smaller ones.
Word Origin
Derived from the natural behavior of larger fish preying on smaller ones, extended metaphorically to human social and economic systems.
Usage Notes
This proverb is often used to criticize unfair practices in business, politics, or social structures where the powerful dominate the weak.
Word Breakdown
cá lớn
big fish
phraseăn
eat
verbcá bé
small fish
phraseTừ Điển Việt Anh