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Animal Proverbs: Shoot the Bird That Pokes Its Head Out

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IN THIS LESSON
ID: 4323 Intermediate
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverbs, you will see a lot of animal metaphors to symbolize human actions. In this lesson, we're showing you three common proverbs related to mice. They can be directly translated to "The shot hits the bird that pokes its head out", "Dumb birds can go into the forest earlier if they fly first", and "A bird in hand is worth hundreds in the bush." Do you know what they actually mean? Check out these proverbs and learn how to apply them to daily life!
Joy,Joshua
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SIMPLIFIED PINYIN ENGLISH  
枪打出头鸟 qiāngdǎchūtóuniǎo lit. The shot hits the bird that pokes its head out (idiom); fig. Ostentatious people tend to become easy targets.
出风头 chūfēngtou to push oneself forward; to seek fame
低调 dīdiào low key
笨鸟先飞早入林 bènniǎoxiānfēizǎorùlín lit. Dumb birds can go into the forest earlier if they fly first (idiom); fig. Diligence can make up for the deficiency.
枪打出头鸟
qiāngdǎchūtóuniǎo 枪打出头鸟
Ostentatious people tend to become easy targets.
在中国文化里强调的是要和大家都一样不要太特别
zài 在Zhōngguó 中国wénhuà 文化lǐ 里qiángdiào 强调de 的shì 是yào 要hé 和dàjiā 大家dōu 都yīyàng 一样bùyào 不要tài 太tèbié 特别
In Chinese culture, we believe everyone should be the same. Do not stand out too much.
枪打出头鸟你别太出风头低调一点比较好
qiāngdǎchūtóuniǎo 枪打出头鸟nǐ 你bié 别tài 太chūfēngtou 出风头dīdiào 低调yìdiǎn 一点bǐjiào 比较hǎo 好
Ostentatious people tend to become easy targets. Stay low-key.
以前我读书的时候大家都不喜欢举手问问题因为他们觉得问问题的人是在出风头
yǐqián 以前wǒ 我dúshū 读书de 的shíhou 时候dàjiā 大家dōu 都bù 不xǐhuan 喜欢jǔshǒu 举手wèn 问wèntí 问题yīnwèi 因为tāmen 他们juéde 觉得wèn 问wèntí 问题de 的rén 人shì 是zài 在chūfēngtou 出风头
When I was a student, people didn't like to raise their hands to ask questions during the class because they would think the person asking questions is showing off.
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