This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

鶏口となるも牛後となるなかれ。

Sentence Analyzer

鶏口 なる 牛後 なる なかれ

English Translation

Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.

Furigana

鶏口(けいこう)となるも牛後(ぎゅうご)となるなかれ。

Romanji

Keikō to naru mo gyūgo to naru nakare.

Words

鶏口 (けいこう)
mouth of a chicken
()
if; when; and; with; particle used for quoting (with speech, thoughts, etc.); quoting particle; promoted pawn; indicates question (sentence end)
成る (なる)
to become; to get; to grow; to be; to reach; to attain; to result in; to prove to be; to consist of; to be composed of; to succeed; to be complete; to change into; to be exchanged for; to play a role; to be promoted; to do ...
()
too; also; in addition; as well; (not) either (in a negative sentence); both A and B; A as well as B; neither A nor B (in a negative sentence); even; as much as; as many as; as far as; as long as; no less than; no fewer than; even if; even though; although; in spite of; further; more; again; another; the other
牛後 (ぎゅうご)
rump of cattle
無い (ない)
nonexistent; not being (there); unpossessed; unowned; not had; unique; indicates negation, inexperience, unnecessariness or impossibility; not ...; to not be...; to have not ...

Kanji

Readings: ケイ、 にわとり、 とり
Meaning: chicken
Readings: コウ、 ク、 くち
Meaning: mouth
Readings: ギュウ、 うし
Meaning: cow
Readings: ゴ、 コウ、 のち、 うし.ろ、 うしろ、 あと、 おく.れる
Meanings: behind, back, later