鱼与熊掌不可兼得

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

no; not so / (bound form) not; un-

to obtain / to get / to gain / to catch (a disease) / proper / suitable / proud / contented / to allow / to permit / ready / finished

structural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc

to have to / must / ought to / to need to

can / may / able to / to approve / to permit / to suit / (particle used for emphasis) certainly / very

used in 可汗[ke4 han2]

variant of 歟|欤[yu2]

and / to give / together with

to take part in

surname Yu

fish / CL:條|条[tiao2],尾[wei3]

surname Xiong

bear / (coll.) to scold / to rebuke / (coll.) weak / incapable

cannot / should not / must not

cannot; should not; must not

palm of the hand / sole of the foot / paw / horseshoe / to slap / to hold in one's hand / to wield

double / twice / simultaneous / holding two or more (official) posts at the same time

bear paw (as food)

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