上には上がある

うえにはうえがある
Alternative writings: 上には上が有る
Frequency:
1

No matter how good someone or something is, there is always someone better; used to express that excellence is relative and to warn against complacency.

ExpressionU-VerbProverb

Examples

彼は野球が上手だが、上には上があるから慢心してはいけない。

He's good at baseball, but there's always someone better, so he shouldn't get complacent.

新しいレストランは評判がいいが、上には上があると聞いて、店主はさらに改良を続けた。

The new restaurant had a good reputation, but hearing that there's always someone better, the owner continued to improve.

大学のランキングで上位でも、上には上があるから安心はできない。

Even if a university ranks highly, there's always someone above it, so you can't be complacent.