lit. to play the lute to a cow (idiom); fig. offering a treat to an un
对 · 5 strokes
Simplified form of 對. Depicts a hand (寸) holding a farming tool (丵) to develop land (土). Based on the original meaning "develop land".
牛 · 4 strokes
Pictograph of the head of a cow.
弹 · 11 strokes
Phonosemantic compound. 弓 represents the meaning and 单 represents the sound. Simplified form of 彈.
琴 · 12 strokes
The top component is a pictograph of a zither-like stringed musical instrument. 今 is a sound component.
跟他讲这些道理，简直是对牛弹琴。
Explaining these principles to him is like casting pearls before swine.