諺語 · a single proverb
零和博弈
What does 零和博弈 (líng hé bó yì) mean?
零和博弈 (líng hé bó yì) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "zero-sum game." In use it means: A situation where one person's gain is exactly equal to another's loss; the assumption that life is a fixed pie. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Rat.
Literally: "zero-sum game."
The reading
If every pie were fixed, then yes, your slice reduces mine. But most pies are being baked while you eat them, and the oven is larger than you think. The person who assumes zero-sum plays differently from the person who suspects the sum could be positive. Both are right some of the time.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Modern expression rooted in game theory; common business/life idiom
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Wealth, Work & Diligence, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rat, Year of the Ox, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 零和博弈 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 零和博弈 (líng hé bó yì) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Modern expression rooted in game theory; common business/life idiom. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 零和博弈?
In Mandarin it is líng hé bó yì. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 零和博弈 aloud in Mandarin.