- 燕雀安知鸿鹄之志 yànquè'ānzhīhónghúzhīzhì how can small fry understand the ambitions of the greatliterally meaning "how can the swallow and sparrow know the will of the great swan"; used to describe how people with narrow minds or common goals cannot understand the grand visions of those with great ambition
- 燕雀处堂 yànquèchǔtáng to live in a fool's paradiseLiterally "swallows and sparrows living in a hall"; describes someone who is living comfortably and has lost their vigilance, unaware that a great disaster is about to happen.
- 处堂燕雀 chùtángyànquè swallows and sparrows in the halllit. swallows and sparrows nesting in a hall; fig. to live in a fool's paradise, unaware of impending disaster or losing vigilance due to comfortable living
- 燕雀焉知鸿鹄之志 yànquèyānzhīhónggǔzhīzhì how can small people understand the ambitions of the greatLiterally "how can a sparrow know the will of a great swan"; used to mean that common people cannot possibly understand the lofty goals or ambitions of a great person.
- 燕雀相贺 yànquèxiānghè housewarming congratulations(idiom) congratulations on the completion of a new building; used to wish someone well on their new house. Literally, the swallows and sparrows congratulate each other because they now have a place to build nests.
- 苍头燕雀 cāngtóuyànquè common chaffincha bird species native to Europe and western Asia, also known as the Eurasian chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
