鑽牛角尖
Chinese
an auger; diamond; enter (a hole) an auger; diamond; enter (a hole); probe |
something that cannot be solved or is unworthy of being studied in detail; insignificant problem | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (鑽牛角尖) | 鑽 | 牛角尖 | |
| simp. (钻牛角尖) | 钻 | 牛角尖 | |
Etymology
Popularized by Lao She (1899–1966) in his play 神拳 (Shén Quán, “Magical Boxers”) published in 1960.
Pronunciation
- Mandarin
- (Pinyin): zuān niújiǎojiān
- (Zhuyin): ㄗㄨㄢ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄢ
- Cantonese (Jyutping): zyun3 ngau4 gok3 zim1
- Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Hanyu Pinyin: zuān niújiǎojiān
- Zhuyin: ㄗㄨㄢ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄢ
- Tongyong Pinyin: zuan nióujiǎojian
- Wade–Giles: tsuan1 niu2-chiao3-chien1
- Yale: dzwān nyóu-jyǎu-jyān
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tzuan nioujeaujian
- Palladius: цзуань нюцзяоцзянь (czuanʹ njuczjaoczjanʹ)
- Sinological IPA (key): /t͡su̯än⁵⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/
- (Standard Chinese, erhua-ed)+
- Hanyu Pinyin: zuānniújiǎojiānr
- Zhuyin: ㄗㄨㄢ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄢㄦ
- Tongyong Pinyin: zuannióujiǎojianr
- Wade–Giles: tsuan1-niu2-chiao3-chien1-ʼrh
- Yale: dzwān-nyóu-jyǎu-jyānr
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tzuannioujeaujial
- Palladius: цзуаньнюцзяоцзяньр (czuanʹnjuczjaoczjanʹr)
- Sinological IPA (key): /t͡su̯än⁵⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑɻ⁵⁵/
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)+
- Jyutping: zyun3 ngau4 gok3 zim1
- Yale: jyun ngàuh gok jīm
- Cantonese Pinyin: dzyn3 ngau4 gok8 dzim1
- Guangdong Romanization: jun3 ngeo4 gog3 jim1
- Sinological IPA (key): /t͡syːn³³ ŋɐu̯²¹ kɔːk̚³ t͡siːm⁵⁵/
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)+
Verb
鑽牛角尖
- (idiomatic) to split hairs; to go down a dead end
Synonyms
Dialectal synonyms of 鑽牛角尖 (“to split hairs; to go down a dead end”) [map]
| Variety | Location | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 鑽牛角尖, 鑽牛角, 鑽牛犄角 | |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 鑽牛角尖兒 |
| Taiwan | 鑽牛角尖 | |
| Singapore | 鑽牛角尖 | |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Yantai (Muping) | 鑽牛角尖兒 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 鑽牛角尖 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 鑽牛角仔縫 |