Etymology

From สี ‎(sǐi, “to play”) +‎ ซอ ‎(sɔɔ, “traditional Thai fiddle”) +‎ ให้ ‎(hâi, “to; for”) +‎ ควาย ‎(kwaai, “water buffalo”) +‎ ฟัง ‎(fang, “to hear; to listen”); literally "to play a fiddle for a water buffalo to listen".

Compare Chinese 對牛彈琴／对牛弹琴 (duìniútánqín), "like playing a zither to a cow".

Pronunciation