隔靴搔痒 in English ge2 xue1 sao1 yang3 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) to scratch the outside of the boot (idiomatic expression)
  • metaphorically beside the point
  • ineffectual

Simplified Characters

隔 靴 搔 痒

Traditional Characters

隔 靴 搔 癢

Pinyin

ge2 xue1 sao1 yang3

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

隔ge2to separate 靴xue1boots 搔sao1to scratch 痒yang3variant of 癢|痒[yang3]