# 对牛弹琴 (duìniú-tánqín): to cast pearls before swine | HSK 7-9 Vocabulary | HSKReady

Canonical: https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-7-9/duiniutanqin-6393
Language: en
Content ID: hsk-7-9-6393
HSK levels: 7-9
Updated: 2026-10-23T04:49:18.675Z
Scope: approved public sample; full vocabulary, question bank and mock exams remain in the app.

Learn 对牛弹琴 (duìniú-tánqín), HSK 7-9: to cast pearls before swine; wasting effort on an unappreciative audience. Hear standard pronunciation and read a Chinese example with its Eng…

# 对牛弹琴

[Audio](https://mvuhmsljbsfgkpkmibuz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/item-assets/vocab/hsk-7-9-6393/word.mp3)

duìniú-tánqín

to cast pearls before swine; wasting effort on an unappreciative audience

HSK 7-9

## Pronunciation

duìniú-tánqín

[Audio](https://mvuhmsljbsfgkpkmibuz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/item-assets/vocab/hsk-7-9-6393/word.mp3)

## Example sentence

跟他讲文学简直是对牛弹琴，他根本不感兴趣。

Gēn tā jiǎng wénxué jiǎnzhí shì duìniú-tánqín, tā gēnběn bù gǎn xìngqù.

Talking to him about literature is like casting pearls before swine; he has no interest at all.

[Audio](https://mvuhmsljbsfgkpkmibuz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/item-assets/vocab/hsk-7-9-6393/ex-0.mp3)

### Read and choose an answer

One fixed sample

[Explore a sample](https://hskready.app/en/learn/question-types/r11-passage-choice)

## Related vocabulary

[**胸有成竹**xiōngyǒuchéngzhúto have a well-thought-out plan in mind; confident of success](https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-7-9/xiongyouchengzhu-10010)[**汹涌**xiōngyǒngto surge up violently (of water); turbulent; raging](https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-7-9/xiongyong-10009)[**胸怀**xiōnghuáibosom; broad-mindedness; to cherish (ambition, etc.)](https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-7-9/xionghuai-10005)[Vocabulary HSK 7-9](https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-7-9)

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