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宁为鸡口,勿为牛后
宁为鸡口,勿为牛后
宁为鸡口,勿为牛后
宁为鸡口,勿为牛后
宁为鸡口,勿为牛后
宁为鸡口,勿为牛后
宁为鸡口,勿为牛后
宁为鸡口,勿为牛后

宁为鸡口,勿为牛后 — “Rather be a chicken's beak than a cow's anus”

宁为鸡口,勿为牛后 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “it is better to be the head of a small organization or group than a subordinate or follower in a larger, more prominent one; rather be a leader in a humble position than a follower in an influential one”. Literally, “Rather be a chicken's beak than a cow's anus”.

Frequency

宁为鸡口,勿为牛后 Pronunciation and Pinyin

宁为鸡口,勿为牛后 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
宁
níng5peaceful, tranquil, calm
为
wèi4to be or to do
鸡
jī7chicken
口
kǒu3mouth, opening, entrance
,,—
勿
wù4do not
为
wèi4to be or to do
牛
niú4Ox, awesome, or stubborn
后
hòu6after, behind, empress

Example Sentence with 宁为鸡口,勿为牛后

小王虽然有机会进入大公司做普通职员,但他更喜欢留在创业公司,宁为鸡口,勿为牛后,因为那样他能学到更多,也有更大的发展空间。
Though Xiao Wang had the opportunity to join a large company as an ordinary employee, he preferred to stay in a startup, believing it's better to be the head of a small group than a subordinate in a big one, because that way he could learn more and have greater room for development.

Idioms Related to 宁为鸡口,勿为牛后

Synonyms of 宁为鸡口,勿为牛后

  • níng宁wèi为jī鸡kǒu口,,wú无wéi为niú牛hòu后Better to lead small than follow large

More idioms starting with 宁

  • níng宁yǔ与qiān千rén人hǎo好,,mò莫yǔ与yī一rén人dí敌Better to be friends with many than enemy with one
  • níng宁wèi为tài太píng平quǎn犬,,mò莫zuò作lí离luàn乱rén人Better a dog in peace than a person in chaos
  • níng宁wèi为tài太píng平gǒu狗,,mò莫zuò作lí离luàn乱rén人Better a dog in peace than a human in chaos
  • nìng宁wéi为yù玉suì碎,,bù不wéi为wǎ瓦quán全Rather die with honor than live in disgrace
  • níng宁wèi为jī鸡kǒu口,,bù不wèi为niú牛hòu后Better to lead small than serve large
  • níng宁wèi为jī鸡kǒu口,,wú毋wèi为niú牛hòu后Better lead small than follow large
  • níng宁wèi为jī鸡shī尸,,bù不wèi为niú牛cóng从Better to lead small than follow large
  • níng宁wèi为jī鸡shī尸,,wú无wéi为niú牛cóng从Better to lead a small group than serve a large one
  • nìng宁kě可xìn信qí其yǒu有Better to believe it exists
  • nìng宁kě可xìn信qí其yǒu有,,bù不kě可xìn信qí其wú无Better safe than sorry
  • nìng宁kě可qīng清pín贫,,bù不zuò作zhuó浊fù富Prefer honest poverty to ill-gotten wealth

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Questions about 宁为鸡口,勿为牛后

What does 宁为鸡口,勿为牛后 mean?

宁为鸡口,勿为牛后 (níng wèi jī kǒu , wù wèi niú hòu) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “it is better to be the head of a small organization or group than a subordinate or follower in a larger, more prominent one; rather be a leader in a humble position than a follower in an influential one”.

How do you pronounce 宁为鸡口,勿为牛后?

宁为鸡口,勿为牛后 is pronounced níng wèi jī kǒu , wù wèi niú hòu in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 宁为鸡口,勿为牛后 literally mean?

Literally, 宁为鸡口,勿为牛后 means “Rather be a chicken's beak than a cow's anus”. It is used to mean “it is better to be the head of a small organization or group than a subordinate or follower in a larger, more prominent one; rather be a leader in a humble position than a follower in an influential one”.

What is the Chinese definition of 宁为鸡口,勿为牛后?

宁:宁愿;牛后:牛的肛门。宁愿做小而洁的鸡嘴,而不愿做大而臭的牛肛门。比喻宁居小者之首,不为大者之后

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