nìng​wéi​jī​kǒu​wú​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,无为牛后/ 寧為雞口,無為牛後 nìng​wéi​jī​kǒu​wú​wéi​niú​hòu (also níng​wéi​jī​kǒu​wú​wéi​niú​hòu) better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond

Better to be independent in a small situation than to be subordinate and powerless in a large one; literally "better to be a chicken's mouth than a cow's backside"

宁为鸡口,无为牛后/ 寧為雞口,無為牛後 nìng​wéi​jī​kǒu​wú​wéi​niú​hòu better a small leader than a big follower

better to be the beak of a bird than the rump of an ox; it is better to lead a small group than to be a lowly subordinate in a large organization

References

variant 宁为鸡口,无为牛后/寧為雞口,無為牛後 宁为鸡口,不为牛后/寧為雞口,不為牛後
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
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
variant 宁为鸡口,无为牛后/寧為雞口,無為牛後 宁为鸡尸,不为牛从/寧為雞屍,不為牛從
abbreviation 鸡口牛后/雞口牛後 宁为鸡口,无为牛后/寧為雞口,無為牛後