ngau4 ziu6 maau5 daan1牛噍牡丹

Jyutpingngau4 ziu6 maau5 daan1

Yalengàuh jiuh máuh dān

Definition

Good food wasted by one who does not appreciate (spoken)

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

This idiom draws a vivid comparison between a cow chewing on a peony and a person who lacks the refinement to appreciate something high quality. It is used to mock someone who is wasting resources on an unappreciative recipient. The tone is quite critical and implies that the person receiving the gift or experience is essentially a philistine.

Examples

bei3 gam3 leng3 ge3 hung4 zau2 keoi5 jam2 gaan2 zik6 hai6 ngau4 ziu6 maau5 daan1

畀咁靚嘅紅酒佢飲，簡直係牛噍牡丹。

Giving him such fine red wine to drink is simply casting pearls before swine.

nei5 maai5 ni1 di1 ming4 paai4 bei2 keoi4 jung6 hai6 mai6 ngau4 ziu6 maau5 daan1 aa4

你買呢啲名牌畀佢用，係咪牛噍牡丹呀？

Are you wasting those designer goods on him, given he has no taste?

Common phrases

gaan2 zik6 hai6 ngau4 ziu6 maau5 daan1

簡直係牛噍牡丹

simply a waste of good things on someone unappreciative

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe someone who is simply poor or unable to afford things. It specifically targets the lack of cultural appreciation or taste, not the lack of financial means.