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

better a big fish in a small pond

宁做鸡头，不做凤尾 寧做雞頭，不做鳳尾 nìng​zuò​jī​tóu​bù​zuò​fèng​wěi
better a big fish in a small pond
Literally "rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail"; refers to the preference for being a leader or a standout in a smaller group rather than a minor figure in a larger, more prestigious group.