對牛彈琴
See also: 对牛弹琴
Chinese
couple; pair; to be opposite couple; pair; to be opposite; to oppose; to face; for; to; correct (answer); to answer; to reply; to direct (towards sth); right | ox; cow; bull | to play certain musical instruments that can be described as, such as some stringed instruments, or a keyboard instrument | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
trad. (對牛彈琴) | 對 | 牛 | 彈琴 | |
simp. (对牛弹琴) | 对 | 牛 | 弹琴 | |
Literally: “playing the zither to a cow”. |
Etymology
First attested in c. 3rd century CE in the story of the Warring States-era musician Gongming Yi (公明儀) playing the zither to a cow, recorded in Mouzi Lihuolun.
Pronunciation
Verb
對牛彈琴 (chengyu)
- to talk about something that one's listener can not understand or turns a deaf ear to; to talk to a brick wall
Descendants
Sino-Xenic (對牛彈琴):
- → Korean: 대우탄금(對牛彈琴) (dae'utan'geum)
- → Vietnamese: đối ngưu đàn cầm (對牛彈琴)
Others:
- → Japanese: 牛に対して琴を弾ず (ushi ni tai shite koto o danzu) (calque)
- → Vietnamese: đàn gảy tai trâu (calque)
- → Thai: สีซอให้ควายฟัง (sǐi-sɔɔ-hâi-kwaai-fang) (calque)