Dictionary › 良禽择木而栖

良禽择木而栖

liáng qín zé mù ér qī

6-character word Traditional 良禽擇木而棲

What 良禽择木而栖 means

1. a fine bird chooses a tree to nest in (proverb)
2. fig. a talented person chooses a patron of integrity

The characters in 良禽择木而栖

• 良liánggood; very; very much
• 禽qín(bound form) birds; fowl; (literary) birds and animals; old variant of 擒
• 择zéto select; to choose; to pick over
• 木mù(bound form) tree; (bound form) wood; unresponsive; numb; wooden
• 而érand; as well as; and so
• 栖qīto perch; to rest (of birds); to dwell

Example sentences

• 良禽择木而栖，贤臣择主而事。
  Liángqínzémù'érqī, xián chén zé zhǔ ér shì.
  A prudent bird chooses its tree. A wise servant chooses his master.