鶏けい口こう牛ぎゅう後ご

expression

better to be the leader of a small group than a subordinate in a large organization; better to be a big fish in a small pond

A yojijukugo proverb. Literally 'rooster's beak, cow's rump'; the rooster's beak is small but leads, while the cow's rump is large but follows. Used to encourage taking a leadership role even in a modest setting.

• 大だい企き業ぎょうの平ひら社しゃ員いんでいるより、小ちいさな会かい社しゃの社しゃ長ちょうになるほうがいい。まさに鶏けい口こう牛ぎゅう後ごだ。

  Rather than being a rank-and-file employee at a big company, it's better to become the president of a small company. That's exactly 'better to be the head of a rooster than the tail of a cow.'