燕雀安知鴻鵠之志

燕雀安知鸿鹄之志
yànquèānzhīhónghúzhīzhì
  1. lit. can the sparrow and swallow know the will of the great swan? (idiom)
  2. fig. how can we small fry predict the ambitions of the great?

CEDICT

Entry Composition

1 燕雀 yànquè
  1. (bird species of China) brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
  2. (fig.) small fry
2 安 ān
  1. (bound form) calm; peaceful
  2. to calm; to set at ease
  3. safe; secure; in good health
  4. content; satisfied (as in 安於 ānyú)
  5. to place (sb) in a suitable position (job)
  6. to install; to fix; to fit
  7. to bring (a charge against sb)
  8. to harbor (certain intentions)
  9. ampere (abbr. for 安培 ānpéi)
3 知 zhī
  1. to know
  2. to be aware
4 鴻鵠之志 hónghúzhīzhì
  1. (figurative) the ambitions of a great person
  2. the ambitions of a great person