馬うまの耳みみに念ねん仏ぶつ

expression

preaching to the deaf; like talking to a wall

Idiomatic expression meaning that advice or reasoning is wasted on someone who cannot or will not understand. Literally 'chanting the nembutsu into a horse's ear'.

See also: 念仏

• 彼かれに何なん度ど言いっても馬うまの耳みみに念ねん仏ぶつだ。

  No matter how many times I tell him, it's like talking to a wall.

• 子こ供どもに節せつ約やくの大たい切せつさを説といても、馬うまの耳みみに念ねん仏ぶつかもしれない。

  Telling kids about the importance of saving money might be like preaching to the deaf.