燕雀安知鴻鵠志

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 Mandarin 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Proverb 1.3 References 1.4 External links

[edit] Mandarin

simplified	燕雀安知鸿鹄志
traditional	燕雀安知鴻鵠志

[edit] Etymology

• c. 109 BC to 91 BCE: Sima Qian, Records of the Grand Historian (史記/卷048)

  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。」庸者笑而應曰：「若為庸耕，何富貴也？」陳涉太息曰：「嗟乎，燕雀安知鴻鵠之志哉！」

  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 laboror, what riches?" Chen She sighed, and said, "Alas, how can a brambling understand the ambitions of a swan! (Wiktionary translation)

[edit] Proverb

燕雀安知鴻鵠志 (traditional, Pinyin yànquè ān zhī hónghú zhì, simplified 燕雀安知鸿鹄志)

1. How can an ordinary person understand the ambitions of a great person!
   • c. 1330 - 1400: Luo Guanzhong, Romance of the Three Kingdoms/Chapter 4

     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!」

     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 brambling understand the ambitions of a swan!' You have captured me, and now you can leisurely turn me over to the authorities and collect your reward. Why ask more questions!"

[edit] References

• "燕雀安知鴻鵠志 (in Mandarin)." Guoyu Cidian On-line Mandarin Dictionary (國語辭典). URL accessed on 2008-02-06.

[edit] External links

• Google hits: .cn
• Google hits: .tw