đàn gảy tai trâu
phrase
Hanoi [ʔɗaːn˨˩ ɣaj˧˩ taːj˧˧ t͡ɕəw˧˧]Huế [ʔɗaːŋ˦˩ ɣaj˧˨ taːj˧˧ ʈəw˧˧]Saigon [ʔɗaːŋ˨˩ ɣa(ː)j˨˩˦ taːj˧˧ ʈəw˧˧] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
đàn gảy tai trâu means talk to a brick wall.
Meanings of đàn gảy tai trâu in English
Phrase
- idiomatic talk to a brick wall (a situation where you say something to someone and they simply would not listen or pay attention)
Example sentences with đàn gảy tai trâu
- Đàn gảy tai trâu. Cast pearls before swine.
Bilingual example sentences from Tatoeba (tatoeba.org, CC BY 2.0 FR).
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"
Frequently asked questions
What does đàn gảy tai trâu mean in English?
đàn gảy tai trâu (phrase) means "talk to a brick wall".
How do you pronounce đàn gảy tai trâu?
IPA: Hanoi [ʔɗaːn˨˩ ɣaj˧˩ taːj˧˧ t͡ɕəw˧˧]; Saigon [ʔɗaːŋ˨˩ ɣa(ː)j˨˩˦ taːj˧˧ ʈəw˧˧]. Tones: đàn — falling tone (huyền), gảy — dipping tone (hỏi), tai — level tone (ngang), trâu — level tone (ngang).