Bèn niǎo xiān fēi*, (zǎo rù lín).

笨鳥先飛(早入林)。

Lit A clumsy bird [has to] fly first [ahead of its peers] (in order to enter the forest earlier).

Fig The slow need to start early and work harder.

Note [Usually said modestly of oneself to explain one's making preparations earlier than others; not “The early bird gets the worm”; cf. DRC, chap. 67. Bèn niǎo xiān fēi has become a common colloquial expression; see also númǎ qiān lǐ below and the following entry.]

Topics colloquial expression DILIGENCE DRC PREPARATION