đàn gảy tai trâu

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Vietnamese[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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[edit]

  • (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[edit]

đàn gảy tai trâu

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