Hanbridge Mandarin Daily Chinese Course - Chinese Idiom 对牛弹琴

对牛弹琴

duì niú tán qín

play the lute to a cow

For example:

面对滥杀无辜生灵的行为，如果他是不屑一顾的，那么跟他大谈素食主义就无异于对牛弹琴。

miàn duì làn shā wú ɡū shēnɡ línɡ de xínɡ wéi ， rú ɡuǒ tā shì bú xiè yí ɡù de ， nà me ɡēn tā dà tán sù shí zhǔ yì jiù wú yì yú duì niú tán qín 。

It would be hopeless to argue vegetarianism with someone who does not shudder at the thought of killing an innocent, sentient being.

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