Swallow in Chinese / Japanese...

燕 is the single character for the swallow (bird).

If you are a zoologist, this can refer to birds of the family Hirundinidae. Sometimes used to refer to Hirundo rustica (the barn swallow).

燕 is also a surname in China that is romanized as Yan. In fact, there were also several different Yan kingdoms in the ancient history of China (which is the origin of the surname).

This is a Chinese translation of the phrase, “One swallow doesn’t make a summer” or “A lone swallow cannot bring summer.”

鴻鵠之誌 is a Chinese proverb that implies that having grand ambitions also means that others will not understand your great expectations and ideas.

Though the actual words come from a longer saying of Confucius, which goes, “The little swallows living under the eaves wouldn't understand the lofty ambitions of a swan (who flies far and wide).”

This Confucius quote has led to this idiomatic expression in China that means “think big.” What you'd be saying is “The lofty ambitions of a swan.”

Note that Chinese people sometimes refer to the little swallow as one who does not “think big” but is, instead, stuck in a rut or just leading a mundane life. Therefore, it's a compliment to be called a swan but not a good thing to be called a swallow.

一次霜凍不代表整個冬天 is a proverb that means “One frost doesn't make winter.”

The deeper meaning is that a single early sign of cold weather doesn't signify the full onset or severity of winter; it's about the gradual transition of seasons, patience, and not jumping to conclusions.

It's a reminder to stay resilient, wait for the real season to arrive, and not let one small event define the whole experience, similar to how one kind word can warm you for months.

While the origin of this proverb is murky (not originally Chinese, likely a modern adaptation of “One swallow does not a summer make”), this idea aligns with the Chinese solar terms (二十四節氣), which mark subtle shifts, like the transition from "cold dew" (寒露) to "frost falls" (霜降).