對牛彈琴 duì niú tán qín

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to play the lute to a cow (idiom)
  2. fig. offering a treat to an unappreciative audience
  3. to cast pearls before swine
  4. caviar to the general
  5. to preach to deaf ears
  6. to talk over sb's head

CHARACTERS

對 duì correct, right; facing, opposed
牛 niú
HSK 2
cow, ox, bull; KangXi radical93
彈 tán pellet, bullet, shot, shell
琴 qín
HSK 4
Chinese lute or guitar