良禽擇木而棲

良禽择木而栖
liángqínzémùérqī
  1. a fine bird chooses a tree to nest in (proverb)
  2. fig. a talented person chooses a patron of integrity

CEDICT

A talented person is free to choose his own boss.

Wiktionary

（諺語）比喻賢才擇主而事。參見「良禽擇木」條。

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 良禽擇木 liángqínzémù
  1. a fine bird chooses a tree to nest in (proverb)
  2. fig. a talented person chooses a patron of integrity
2 而 ér
  1. and
  2. as well as
  3. and so
  4. but (not)
  5. yet (not)
  6. (indicates causal relation)
  7. (indicates change of state)
  8. (indicates contrast)
3 棲 qī
  1. to perch
  2. to rest (of birds)
  3. to dwell
  4. to live
  5. to stay

Related entries

良禽擇木 liángqínzémù
  1. a fine bird chooses a tree to nest in (proverb)
  2. fig. a talented person chooses a patron of integrity