nìng​wéi​jī​kǒu​wú​wéi​niú​hòu

big fish in a small pond

Senses

宁为鸡口,毋为牛后/ 寧為雞口,毋為牛後 nìng​wéi​jī​kǒu​wú​wéi​niú​hòu big fish in a small pond

better to be the beak of a bird than the rump of an ox; better to be a leader of a small group than 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,毋为牛后/寧為雞口,毋為牛後