1. Schnabel eines Hahnes (in der Formulierung keikō to naru mo gyūgo to narunakare.鶏口となるとも牛後となるなかれ = Lieber der Schnabel eines Hahnes als der Schwanz eines Ochsen werden.)
better to be the beak of a rooster than the rump of a bull; better to be the leader of a small group than a subordinate in a large organization; better to be a big fish in a little pond than a little fish in a big pond
better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion; better be first in a village than second at Rome; (lit.) better to be the mouth of a chicken than the rear end of a cow