- 鸡头米 jītóumǐ gorgon nutThe edible seeds of the prickly water lily [[芡实|芡實|qian4 shi2]]; used in cooking and traditional medicine. Its name comes from the plant's flower stalk, which resembles a chicken head.
- 宁为鸡头，不为凤尾 nìngwéijītóubùwéifèngwěi better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pondLiterally "would rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail"; used to express a preference for being the leader of a small or unimportant group rather than a minor member of a prestigious one
- 宁做鸡头，不做凤尾 nìngzuòjītóubùzuòfèngwěi better a big fish in a small pondLiterally "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.
