宁做鸡头，不做凤尾
nìng zuò jī tóu , bù zuò fèng wěi
-
1 lit. would rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail (idiom)
-
2 fig. to prefer to be a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond
宁左勿右
nìng zuǒ wù yòu
-
1 (of one's political views) to prefer left rather than right (idiom during the Cultural Revolution)
宁拆十座庙，不毁一桩婚
níng chāi shí zuò miào , bù huì yī zhuāng hūn
-
1 rather destroy ten temples than a single marriage (idiom)
宁死不屈
nìng sǐ bù qū
-
1 rather die than submit (idiom)
宁为玉碎，不为瓦全
nìng wéi yù suì , bù wéi wǎ quán
-
1 Better broken jade than intact tile.
-
2 Death is preferable to dishonor. (idiom)
宁缺毋滥
nìng quē wú làn
-
1 better to have nothing (than substandard choice) (idiom); would prefer to go without than accept shoddy option
宁静致远
níng jìng zhì yuǎn
-
1 tranquility yields transcendence (idiom); quiet life of profound study
-
2 cf Still waters run deep.
息事宁人
xī shì níng rén
-
1 to keep the peace; to patch up a quarrel (idiom)
鸡犬不宁
jī quǎn bù níng
-
1 lit. not even the chickens and dogs are left undisturbed (idiom)
-
2 fig. great commotion
-
3 pandemonium