钻牛角尖 (zuān niú jiǎo jiān) — to waste time on an insignificant or unsolvable problem; to split hairs
Definition
An idiom meaning to obsess over a trivial or unsolvable problem — like 'splitting hairs' or 'bashing your head against a wall'. Used as a verb or noun for the futile overthinking itself.
verb
to waste time on an insignificant or unsolvable problemto split hairs
Examples
- 钻牛角尖，。Tā zǒng xǐ huan zuān niú jiǎo jiān, tǎo lùn yì xiē méi yòng de wèn tí.He always likes to split hairs, discussing useless problems.
- 钻牛角尖，。Bié zuān niú jiǎo jiān le, zhè ge wèn tí gēn běn bú zhòng yào.Don't waste time on this trivial problem; it's not important at all.
- 钻牛角尖，。Nǐ zhè yàng zuò shì zài zuān niú jiǎo jiān, bù rú huàn gè fāng fǎ.You're bashing your head against a brick wall doing this; better to change your approach.
Appears in
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