鸿鹄与鸡 — “Swan and Chicken”
鸿鹄与鸡 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to describe the ability to carefully examine and identify useful talents or valuable resources that are readily available or close at hand, often contrasting with the superficial admiration for distant or seemingly grander things”. Literally, “Swan and Chicken”.
鸿鹄与鸡 Pronunciation and Pinyin
鸿鹄与鸡 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 鸿鹄与鸡
Origin and Story of 鸿鹄与鸡
Tian Rao, having served Duke Ai of Lu for many years without being given important responsibilities, told the Duke that he wished to fly away like a swan.
Duke Ai was puzzled.
Tian Rao subtly explained: 'Though a chicken possesses the five virtues of civility, martial prowess, bravery, benevolence, and trustworthiness, it is slaughtered by you because it is close at hand. A swan, however, possesses none of these five virtues, yet it eats your grains and is considered noble by you. Therefore, I wish to emulate the swan and fly far away.'
Idioms Related to 鸿鹄与鸡
More idioms starting with 鸿
- hóng鸿yè业yuǎn远tú图Grand undertaking and far-reaching vision
- hóng鸿chóu俦hè鹤lǚ侣distinguished and noble companions
- hóng鸿rú儒shuò硕xué学profoundly learned scholars
- hóng鸿rú儒shuò硕fǔ辅highly learned scholars and meritorious officials
- hóng鸿hán函jù钜dú椟vast collection of books
- hóng鸿shāng商fù富gǔ贾wealthy merchants and magnates
- hóng鸿tú图huá华gòu构Grand magnificent architecture
- hóng鸿jūn均zhī之shì世Era of great peace and equality
- hóng鸿duàn断yú鱼chén沉all communication cut off
- hóng鸿àn案xiāng相zhuāng庄loving and respectful marriage
- hóng鸿àn案lù鹿chē车respectful and considerate couple
- hóng鸿máo毛tài泰shān山Vast difference in importance
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Open the tool →Questions about 鸿鹄与鸡
What does 鸿鹄与鸡 mean?
鸿鹄与鸡 (hóng hú yǔ jī) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to describe the ability to carefully examine and identify useful talents or valuable resources that are readily available or close at hand, often contrasting with the superficial admiration for distant or seemingly grander things”.
How do you pronounce 鸿鹄与鸡?
鸿鹄与鸡 is pronounced hóng hú yǔ jī in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 鸿鹄与鸡 literally mean?
Literally, 鸿鹄与鸡 means “Swan and Chicken”. It is used to mean “to describe the ability to carefully examine and identify useful talents or valuable resources that are readily available or close at hand, often contrasting with the superficial admiration for distant or seemingly grander things”.
Where does 鸿鹄与鸡 come from?
鸿鹄与鸡 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 鸿鹄与鸡?
形容认真考察身边的有用之材