杀鸡焉用牛刀 shā jī yān yòng niú dāo

DEFINITIONS

  1. don't use a sledgehammer on a nut
  2. aquila non capit muscam

CHARACTERS

杀 shā
HSK 5
kill, slaughter, murder; hurt
鸡 jī
HSK 2
chicken
焉 yān thereupon, then; how? why? where?
用 yòng
HSK 3
use, employ, apply, operate; use
牛 niú
HSK 2
cow, ox, bull; KangXi radical93
刀 dāo
HSK 4
knife; old coin; measure