對牛彈琴
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
couple; pair; to be opposite couple; pair; to be opposite; to oppose; to face; for; to; correct (answer); to answer; to reply; to direct (towards something); right |
ox; cow; bull | to play certain musical instruments that can be described as, such as some stringed instruments, or a keyboard instrument | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
trad. (對牛彈琴) | 對 | 牛 | 彈琴 | |
simp. (对牛弹琴) | 对 | 牛 | 弹琴 | |
Literally: “playing the guqin to a cow”. |
First attested in c. 3rd century CE in the story of the Warring States-era musician Gongming Yi (公明儀) playing the zither to a cow, recorded in Mouzi Lihuolun. Mouzi used this example to illustrate the correct way to explain Buddhism to people with Confucian backgrounds.
對牛彈琴 (chengyu)
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