宁做鸡头，不做凤尾 nìng zuò jī tóu ， bù zuò fèng wěi

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. would rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail (idiom)
  2. fig. to prefer to be a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond

CHARACTERS

宁 nìng
HSK 5
calm, peaceful, serene; healthy
做 zuò
HSK 1
work, make; act
鸡 jī
HSK 2
chicken
头 tóu
HSK 3
head; top; chief, first; boss
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
做 zuò
HSK 1
work, make; act
凤 fèng male phoenix; symbol of joy
尾 wěi
HSK 5
tail, extremity; end, stern