1.
swallows and sparrows; small birds
A literary term combining the characters for swallow (燕) and sparrow (雀), collectively referring to small, common birds.
2.
a person of small ambition; a petty person
Used figuratively to refer to someone with limited vision or small aspirations, as contrasted with someone of great ambition or stature. Derives from the famous proverb about swallows and sparrows not understanding the ambitions of the great roc.
How could swallows and sparrows ever know the ambition of the great roc?
The most famous use of this word, from the Chinese historical text Records of the Grand Historian.
He continued to pursue his dream, unbothered by the mockery of the small-minded people around him.
A literary compound of 燕 (swallow) and 雀 (sparrow). Primarily encountered in the famous proverb and in elevated writing.
Famous proverb
燕雀いずくんぞ鴻鵠の志を知らんや — "How could swallows and sparrows know the ambitions of the great roc?" From the Chinese historical text 史記 (Records of the Grand Historian) by Sima Qian. Used to express that ordinary people cannot comprehend the aspirations of the truly ambitious.
Common collocations
- 燕雀の徒 — people of petty ambition
- 鴻鵠と燕雀 — the great and the small; those of high ambition versus the ordinary
Related words
- 鴻鵠 — great roc; metaphor for a person of grand ambition (the counterpart to 燕雀)
- 大志 — great ambition
- 小人 — a petty or small-minded person
Register
Highly literary and formal. Used almost exclusively in writing, speeches, or quotations. Understanding this word is valuable for reading classical Japanese and Chinese-influenced literature.
Related Words
Related:
大志 (great ambition)