燕
雀
焉
知
鸿
鹄
之
志
y
à
n
q
u
è
y
ā
n
z
h
ī
h
ó
n
g
g
ǔ
z
h
ī
z
h
ì
Definitions
1. lit. can the sparrow and swallow know the will of the great swan? (idiom); fig. how can we small fry predict the ambitions of the great?
Components
燕雀
yàn què
–
(bird species of China) brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
焉知
yān zhī
–
(literary) how is one to know?