諺語 · a single proverb
牛頭不對馬嘴
Simplified: 牛头不对马嘴
What does 牛頭不對馬嘴 (niú tóu bù duì mǎ zuǐ) mean?
牛頭不對馬嘴 (niú tóu bù duì mǎ zuǐ) is a colloquial saying (súyǔ 俗語). Word for word it reads "the ox head does not match the horse mouth." In use it means: A response that has nothing to do with the question. Two things placed together that do not fit. The answer and the question are from different animals entirely. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Ox.
Literally: "the ox head does not match the horse mouth."
The reading
You asked about the schedule. They answered about the budget. You asked about the budget. They answered about their vacation. The conversation is technically happening, but the two halves are in different rooms. Before you say anything else, check: are we even talking about the same animal?
What kind of proverb it is
Source folk proverb 民間諺語; common colloquial expression
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Friendship, Trust & Speech, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Ox, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 牛頭不對馬嘴 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 牛頭不對馬嘴 (niú tóu bù duì mǎ zuǐ) is a colloquial saying (súyǔ 俗語), and it comes from folk proverb 民間諺語; common colloquial expression. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 牛頭不對馬嘴?
In Mandarin it is niú tóu bù duì mǎ zuǐ. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 牛頭不對馬嘴 aloud in Mandarin.