老太太啃核桃,吃不开老太太啃核桃,吃不開老太太啃核桃,吃不開

an old lady biting a walnut: can't crack it open

Saying俗语俗語

Two-part saying歇后语歇後語 · Rarely used now

Meaning: Something doesn't work or isn't welcome; it won't get anywhere.
Wordplay: 吃不开 (chībukāi) means both 'can't bite it open' and 'not popular, doesn't work'.

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Simplified: 老太太啃核桃,吃不开
Traditional (Taiwan): 老太太啃核桃,吃不開
Pinyin: lǎotàitai kěn hétao,chībùkāi
Bopomofo: ㄌㄠˇ ㄊㄞˋ ˙ㄊㄞㄎㄣˇ ㄏㄜˊ ˙ㄊㄠ,ㄔㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄞ

Written with HSK 7-9 vocabulary, at CEFR level C1.

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