宁做鸡头，不做凤尾
nìng zuò jī tóu , bù zuò fèng wěi
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1 lit. would rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail (idiom)
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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
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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
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1 rather destroy ten temples than a single marriage (idiom)
宁死不屈
nìng sǐ bù qū
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1 rather die than submit (idiom)
宁为玉碎，不为瓦全
nìng wéi yù suì , bù wéi wǎ quán
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1 Better broken jade than intact tile.
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2 Death is preferable to dishonor. (idiom)
宁缺毋滥
nìng quē wú làn
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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
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1 tranquility yields transcendence (idiom); quiet life of profound study
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2 cf Still waters run deep.
息事宁人
xī shì níng rén
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1 to keep the peace; to patch up a quarrel (idiom)
扼喉抚背
è hóu fǔ bèi
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1 lit. to strangle the front and press the back (idiom)
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2 fig. to occupy all key points (military)
鸡犬不宁
jī quǎn bù níng
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1 lit. not even the chickens and dogs are left undisturbed (idiom)
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2 fig. great commotion
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3 pandemonium