良禽擇木而棲

Chinese

to choose one's own master
 
and; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state); (shows contrast)
 
to roost; to inhabit; to stay; habitat
trad. (良禽擇木而棲) 良禽 擇木 而 棲
simp. (良禽择木而栖) 良禽 择木 而 栖

Etymology

良禽擇木而棲，賢臣擇主而事。 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]
良禽择木而栖，贤臣择主而事。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14th century CE
Liángqín zémù ér qī, xiánchén zé zhǔ ér shì. [Pinyin]
A good bird chooses (for himself) the tree upon which to perch, the talented subject chooses (for himself) the lord that he shall serve.

Pronunciation

  • Mandarin
    (Pinyin): liángqín zé mù ér qī
    (Zhuyin): ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄜˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄦˊ ㄑㄧ
  • Mandarin
    • (Standard Chinese)+
      • Pinyin: liángqín zé mù ér qī
      • Zhuyin: ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄜˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄦˊ ㄑㄧ
      • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: liangchyn tzer muh elr chi
      • IPA (key): /li̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ mu⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

Proverb

良禽擇木而棲

  1. A talented person is free to choose his own boss.

Synonyms

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