nìng​wéi​jī​kǒu​wù​wéi​niú​hòu

better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond

Senses

宁为鸡口,勿为牛后/ 寧為雞口,勿為牛後 nìng​wéi​jī​kǒu​wù​wéi​niú​hòu better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond

better to be the head of a chicken than the rump of an ox; to prefer being a leader in a small group to being a follower in a large one

References

variant 宁为鸡口,无为牛后/寧為雞口,無為牛後 宁为鸡口,勿为牛后/寧為雞口,勿為牛後