對牛彈琴 duì niú tán qín

to preach to deaf ears

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

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

Characters

Character Meaning
for; towards; at
cow; ox; bull
bullet; shell; shot
musical instrument in general