钻牛角尖 in English zuan1 niu2 jiao3 jian1 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) to penetrate into a bull's horn (idiomatic expression); metaphorically to waste time on an insoluble or insignificant problem
  • to bash one's head against a brick wall
  • a wild goose chase
  • a blind alley
  • to split hairs

Simplified Characters

钻 牛 角 尖

Traditional Characters

鑽 牛 角 尖

Pinyin

zuan1 niu2 jiao3 jian1

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

钻zuan1variant of 鑽|钻[zuan4] 牛niu2surname Niu 角jiao3surname Jue 尖jian1point (of needle)