Chinese idioms

 

Play the lute to a cow (address the wrong audience; go over someone's head).

对牛弹琴

(duìniú tánqín)

 

A: I really like those abstract paintings we saw yesterday. What do you think?

我真的很喜欢我们昨天看到的抽象画。你觉得呢？

(wǒ zhēnde hěn xǐhuan wǒmen zuótiān kàndào de chōuxiànɡhuà. nǐ juéde ne?)

 

B: I haven't acquired a taste yet for abstract art.

我看抽象画,就是对牛弹琴。

(wǒ kàn chōuxiànɡhuà, jiùshì duìniú tánqín.)

 

A: Don't worry, you can learn.

不用担心,可以学的。

(bùyònɡ dānxīn, kěyǐ xué de.)

 

B: It's going to take my whole lifetime.

那要花费我一生的时间。

(nà yào huāfèi wǒ yìshēnɡ de shíjiān.)