đàn gảy tai trâu

Vietnamese

Etymology

Probably a calque of Chinese 對牛彈琴／对牛弹琴 (đối ngưu đàn cầm); literally "playing a musical instrument for a water buffalo"

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ʔɗaːn˨˩ ɣaj˧˩ taːj˧˧ t͡ɕəw˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʔɗaːŋ˦˩ ɣaj˧˨ taːj˧˧ ʈəw˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ʔɗaːŋ˨˩ ɣa(ː)j˨˩˦ taːj˧˧ ʈəw˧˧]

Noun

đàn gảy tai trâu

1. (idiomatic) a situation where you say something to someone and they simply would not listen or pay attention.