燕雀安知鴻鵠志
See also: 燕雀安知鸿鹄志
Chinese
FWOTD – 9 January 2017
bramble finch; brambling; swallow and sparrow how to know; to be aware big bird; swan; person with lofty aspirations the will trad. (燕雀安知鴻鵠志) 燕雀 安 知 鴻鵠 志 simp. (燕雀安知鸿鹄志) 燕雀 安 知 鸿鹄 志
Etymology
From Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian:
- 陳涉少時,嘗與人傭耕,輟耕之壟上,悵恨久之,曰:「苟富貴,無相忘。」傭者笑而應曰:「若為傭耕,何富貴也?」陳涉太息曰:「嗟乎,燕雀安知鴻鵠之志哉!」 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]
- From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, circa 91 BCE
- Chén Shè shàoshí, cháng yǔ rén yōnggēng, chuò gēng zhī lǒng shàng, chànghèn jiǔzhī, yuē: “Gǒu fùguì, wú xiàng wàng.” Yōng zhě xiào ér yìng yuē: “Ruò wèi yōnggēng, hé fùguì yě?” Chén Shè tàixī yuē: “Jiēhū, yànquè ān zhī hónghúzhīzhì zāi!” [Pinyin]
- When Chen She was young, he worked in the fields with other day laborers. One day, he stopped working and climbed to the top of a hill. He was sullen for quite some time, then said, "If I become rich, I will not forget you all." The other workers laughed, and responded, "You're a day labourer, what riches?" Chen She sighed, and said, "Alas, how can a little songbird understand the ambitions of a grand swan!"
陈涉少时,尝与人佣耕,辍耕之垄上,怅恨久之,曰:“苟富贵,无相忘。”佣者笑而应曰:“若为佣耕,何富贵也?”陈涉太息曰:“嗟乎,燕雀安知鸿鹄之志哉!” [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation
Proverb
燕雀安知鴻鵠志
- How can an ordinary person understand the ambitions of a great person?
- 至夜分,縣令喚親隨人暗地取出曹操,且至後院中審究;問曰:「我聞丞相待汝不薄,何故自取其禍?」操曰:「『燕雀安知鴻鵠志哉』?汝既拏住我,便當解去請賞。何必多問!」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
- From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14th century CE
- Zhì yèfēn, xiànlìng huàn qīnsuí rén àndì qǔ chū Cáo Cāo, qiě zhì hòuyuàn zhōng shěnjiū; wèn yuē: “Wǒ wén chéngxiàng dài rǔ bùbó, hégù zìqǔqíhuò?” Cāo yuē: “‘Yànquè ān zhī hónghú zhì zāi’? Rǔ jì ná zhù wǒ, biàndang jiě qù qǐngshǎng. Hébì duō wèn!” [Pinyin]
- At midnight, the county governor ordered his personal aides to discreetly escort Cao Cao to the rear courtyard for questioning; he asked, "I have heard that the chancellor treats you very well, so why have you brought such trouble upon yourself?" Cao said, "'How can a little songbird understand the ambitions of a grand swan?' You have captured me, and now you can leisurely turn me over to the authorities and collect your reward. Why ask more questions!"
至夜分,县令唤亲随人暗地取出曹操,且至后院中审究;问曰:“我闻丞相待汝不薄,何故自取其祸?”操曰:“‘燕雀安知鸿鹄志哉’?汝既拿住我,便当解去请赏。何必多问!” [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
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