1.
casting pearls before swine; wasted on those who can't appreciate it
Literally 'a gold coin to a cat.' A proverb describing the futility of giving something valuable to someone who cannot understand or appreciate its worth. The 小判 was an oval gold coin of the Edo period.
これは猫に小判だ。
This is like casting pearls before swine.
彼に高級ワインをあげても猫に小判だ。
Giving him fine wine is wasted on him.
興味のない人に名画を見せても、猫に小判でしかない。
Showing a masterpiece to someone with no interest in it is just casting pearls before swine.
A very common proverb. The 小判 was a valuable oval gold coin; to a cat it means nothing, just as something precious is wasted on someone who cannot grasp its value.
USAGE:
Used to comment that something good is being given to, or used by, someone who cannot appreciate it.
SIMILAR PROVERBS:
- 豚に真珠: pearls before swine
- 馬の耳に念仏: chanting sutras into a horse's ear — advice falling on deaf ears