对牛弹琴 (duì niú tán qín): lit. to play the lute to a cow; fig. offering a treat to an unappreciative audience; to cast pearls before swine

duìniútánqín

lit. to play the lute to a cow; fig. offering a treat to an unappreciative audience; to cast pearls before swine

Playing the lute to a cow. The Japanese 馬の耳に念仏 is the same idea with a horse. For an audience that cannot take it in.

The same saying in Japanese: