- 人外有人,天外有天 rénwàiyǒuréntiānwàiyǒutiān there is always someone betterLiterally 'there are people beyond people and heavens beyond heavens'; used to express that no matter how talented one is, there is always someone more capable in the wider world beyond one's own circle; used to advise against complacency or arrogance.
- 天外有天,人外有人 tiānwàiyǒutiānrénwàiyǒurén there is always someone betterIn the wider world there are always people more talented or skies more vast than what one knows; there is always someone better than oneself.
- 山外有山,天外有天 shānwàiyǒushāntiānwàiyǒutiān there is always something betterThere is always someone more talented or something more impressive than what you have seen; there is always a higher level to strive for.