燕雀安んぞ鴻鵠の志を知らんや
えんじゃくいずくんぞこうこくのこころざしをしらんや
Meanings
- Expression only a hero can understand a hero (literally: swallows and sparrows can't understand the aspirations of phoenixes and swans) See also: 燕雀鴻鵠 (えんじゃくこうこく).
Kanji
- 燕 swallow (bird). Read as エン.
- 雀 sparrow. Read as ジャク.
- 安 safe
- 鴻 large bird; wild goose; large. Read as コウ.
- 鵠 swan. Read as コク.
- 志 aspire. Read as こころざし.
- 知 know. Read as しる.