yōu优superiorshèng胜winliè劣inferiortài汰eliminate
Survival of the fittest; the superior wins and the inferior is eliminated.
Literal meaning
superior (优) — win (胜) — inferior (劣) — eliminate (汰)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing the process of natural selection or competition.
Examples
Zài在jī激liè烈de的shì市chǎng场jìng竞zhēng争zhōng中，yōu优shèng胜liè劣tài汰shì是bì必rán然de的。
In fierce market competition, survival of the fittest is inevitable.
Jiào教yù育tǐ体xì系yě也cún存zài在yōu优shèng胜liè劣tài汰de的xiàn现xiàng象。
The education system also has the phenomenon of survival of the fittest.
Usage & nuances
Often used in the context of competition, business, or natural selection.
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