强龙不压地头蛇

lit. strong dragon cannot repress a snake (idiom); fig. a local gangster who is above the law

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

-ly / structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct

earth / ground / field / place / land / CL:片[pian4]

head / hair style / the top / end / beginning or end / a stub / remnant / chief / boss / side / aspect / first / leading / classifier for pigs or livestock / CL:個|个[ge4]

suffix for nouns

surname Qiang

stubborn / unyielding

strong / powerful / better / slightly more than / vigorous / violent / best in their category, e.g. see 百強|百强[bai3 qiang2]

to force / to compel / to strive / to make an effort

variant of 強|强[jiang4]

variant of 強|强[qiang2]

variant of 強|强[qiang3]

to press / to push down / to keep under (control) / pressure

see 壓根兒|压根儿[ya4 gen1 r5]

dragon / CL:條|条[tiao2] / imperial

variant of 蛇[she2]

snake / serpent / CL:條|条[tiao2]

place / locality / edge of a field / lower margin of a page

local bully / tyrant / regional mafia boss