Definition
钻牛角尖 is a four-character idiom (chengyu) that literally means 'to drill into a bull's horn', but figuratively describes wasting time on trivial or unsolvable problems, splitting hairs, or stubbornly pursuing a dead end. You can use it as a verb phrase to criticize someone who overcomplicates things or refuses to let go of a minor issue.
v
to waste time on an insignificant or unsolvable problemto split hairs
Examples
- 钻牛角尖，。Tā zǒng xǐhuan zuān niú jiǎo jiān, tǎolùn yìxiē méiyòng de wèntí.He always likes to split hairs, discussing useless problems.
- 钻牛角尖，。Bié zuān niú jiǎo jiān le, zhège wèntí gēnběn bú zhòngyào.Don't waste time on this trivial problem; it's not important at all.
- 钻牛角尖，。Nǐ zhèyàng zuò shì zài zuān niú jiǎo jiān, bùrú huàn gè fāngfǎ.You're bashing your head against a brick wall doing this; better to change your approach.
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