鶏けい口こうとなるも牛ぎゅう後ごとなる勿なかれ

expression

better to be the head of a small group than the tail of a large one; better to be a big fish in a small pond

Proverb advising that it is better to be a leader in a modest position than a follower in a grand one. The literal image is 'better to be a chicken's beak than a cow's rear end.'

• 大だい企き業ぎょうで平ひら社しゃ員いんより、小ちいさな会かい社しゃでリーダーになる方ほうがいい。まさに鶏けい口こうとなるも牛ぎゅう後ごとなる勿なかれだ。

  It's better to be a leader in a small company than a rank-and-file employee in a big corporation. Truly, better to be the head of a chicken than the rear end of a cow.