对牛弹琴duì niú tán qínto preach to deaf ears

1. 1.

   to preach to deaf earsidiom

2. 2.

   to talk over sb's headidiom

3. 3.

   offering a treat to an unappreciative audienceidiom

Figurative meaning

To preach to deaf ears; to talk over sb's head.

Literal meaning

To play the lute to a cow.

• 对to face
• 牛cow
• 弹to play (a string instrument)
• 琴musical instrument in general

The story

Gongming Yi played a refined qingjiao tune for an ox. The ox kept its head down and went on eating as before. It was not that the ox could not hear; the music simply did not suit its ears.

对牛弹琴 can describe explaining something to a listener who cannot follow or appreciate it.

1. HSK 3

   跟他讲音乐是对牛弹琴，他对音乐不感兴趣。

   Gēn tā jiǎng yīnyuè shì duì niú tán qín, tā duì yīnyuè bù gǎn xìngqù.

   Talking about music with him is preaching to deaf ears; he isn't interested in music.

2. HSK 3

   我给孩子讲大学的事，好像对牛弹琴。

   Wǒ gěi háizi jiǎng dàxué de shì, hǎoxiàng duì niú tán qín.

   Telling the kids about university felt like talking over their heads.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   你跟你弟弟讲电脑了吗？

   Nǐ gēn nǐ dìdi jiǎng diànnǎo le ma?

   Did you explain computers to your little brother?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   讲了，他一点儿也不懂。

   Jiǎng le, tā yìdiǎnr yě bù dǒng.

   I did; he didn't understand a thing.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   他还小，你讲得太难了。

   Tā hái xiǎo, nǐ jiǎng de tài nán le.

   He's still little; you made it too hard.

4. 
   Speaker B:

   是啊，我是对牛弹琴。

   Shì a, wǒ shì duì niú tán qín.

   Yeah, I was talking over his head.

1. 1.What does 对牛弹琴 mean?

   ATo preach to deaf earsBTo take care of cowsCTo practice an instrument
2. 2.Which sentence uses 对牛弹琴 correctly?

   A他不喜欢电影，跟他讲电影是对牛弹琴。B这头牛很对牛弹琴。C我对牛弹琴地吃饭。
3. 3.Which word fits best? 他听不懂，我说了也是____。 (He can't understand, so what I say is preaching to deaf ears.)

   A对牛弹琴B坐井观天C望梅止渴

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Related idioms

• 九牛一毛jiǔ niú yī máoa drop in the oceanNot on the HSK 3.0 syllabus
• 一举两得yì jǔ liǎng détwo birds with one stoneHSK 7–9
• 一如既往yì rú jì wǎng(idiom) just as in the past; as before; continuing as alwaysHSK 7–9
• 一目了然yí mù liǎo ránobvious at a glance (idiom)HSK 7–9
• 不可思议bù kě sī yìinconceivable; unimaginable; unfathomableHSK 7–9
• 不知不觉bù zhī bù jué(idiom) unconsciously; unwittinglyHSK 7–9

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