đàn gảy tai trâu

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Vietnamese

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Etymology

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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

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  • (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

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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)