燕雀安知鴻鵠之志 yàn què ān zhī hóng hú zhī zhì

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. can the sparrow and swallow know the will of the great swan? (idiom)
  2. fig. how can we small fry predict the ambitions of the great?

CHARACTERS

燕 yàn swallow (bird); comfort, enjoy
雀 què
HSK 6
sparrow
安 ān
HSK 3
peaceful, tranquil, quiet
知 zhī
HSK 2
know, perceive, comprehend
鴻 hóng species of wild swan; vast
鵠 hú target
之 zhī
HSK 4
marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; go to
志 zhì
HSK 4
purpose, will, determination; annals