出头椽子先烂 出頭椽子先爛 出頭椽子先爛

the rafter end that sticks out rots first

Saying俗语俗語

Proverb谚语諺語 · In everyday use

Meaning
Those who stand out or take the lead are the first to be attacked or harmed. Like 'the tallest poppy gets cut down'.
Simplified
出头椽子先烂
Traditional (Taiwan)
出頭椽子先爛
Pinyin
chūtóu chuánzi xiān làn
Bopomofo
ㄔㄨ ㄊㄡˊ ㄔㄨㄢˊ ˙ㄗ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄌㄢˋ

Written with HSK 7-9 vocabulary, at CEFR level C1.

Words in this sentence

Where this sentence is used

All Chinese example sentences