You‘ve likely noticed this in Chinese conversations.
You explain something clearly. The other person listens, maybe even says “okay.“ But later, it becomes clear that nothing changed. It‘s not that they misunderstood you, they just didn‘t really take it in.
In English, we might call it “in one ear, out the other.“
And yes, there‘s a direct Chinese translation:
Zuǒ ěr jìn, yòu ěr chū.
左耳进，右耳出。
Literally: in the left ear, out the right ear.
So why don‘t Chinese people actually use this in everyday conversation?
Because in real life, it sounds oddly formal and detached more like something from a book than a real talk. Native speakers rarely say it, especially in personal or emotional moments.
Instead, they describe what really happened: not that the words went in and out, but that they didn‘t matter, weren‘t absorbed, or were ignored.
Here‘s how they express it the way you won‘t find in most textbooks:
What Chinese People Really Say?
1、Gēn běn méi tīng jìn qù.
根本没听进去。
You didn‘t take it in at all.
This isn‘t about hearing, it‘s about absorbing.
It says: You heard me, but nothing stayed in your mind.
Used often when someone listens but doesn‘t process.
Example:
Wǒ gāng cái shuō de, nǐ gēn běn méi tīng jìn qù.
我刚才说的，你根本没听进去。
You didn‘t take in anything I just said.
2、Dāng ěr biān fēng.
当耳边风。
Treat it like wind past your ears.
More emotional, and very common in close relationships.
It implies that your words were heard, but not really taken seriously.
Example:
Wǒ shuō de huà, nǐ dōu dāng ěr biān fēng le.
我说的话，你都当耳边风了。
Everything I said, you just treated like wind.
3、Tīng shì tīng le, jiù shì méi dāng huí shì.
听是听了，就是没当回事。
You heard it, you just didn‘t take it seriously.
This structure is classically Chinese: agree first, correct second.
It feels natural and nuanced, much more so than a fixed idiom.
4、Shuō le yě bái shuō.
说了也白说。
No point in even saying it.
Sometimes Chinese shifts the focus from listening to speaking, describing how futile it can feel to talk.
It‘s raw, real, and packed with the same resignation as “in one ear, out the other.“
Example:
Gēn nǐ shuō le yě shì bái shuō.
跟你说了也是白说。
There‘s no point saying it to you.
Learn Real Chinese, Not Just Translations
English focuses on the path of the words (in one ear, out the other).
Chinese focuses on their impact or lack thereof.
That subtle shift explains why direct translations often feel off, and why learners can speak correctly yet not naturally. It‘s not a vocabulary gap, it‘s a thinking gap.
This is exactly where traditional learning methods fall short, and where real guidance makes all the difference.
At eChineseLearning, we bridge that gap.
In our 1-on-1 lessons, you don‘t just learn phrases, you learn how native speakers think, express emotion, and navigate real conversations. Our teachers tailor each session to help you speak Chinese that doesn‘t just sound right it sounds real.
Quiz: How do you say “in one ear, out the other“ in Chinese?
A) 一耳进，一耳出 (yī ěr jìn, yī ěr chū)
B) 左耳进，右耳出 (zuǒ ěr jìn, yòu ěr chū)
C) 进耳出耳 (jìn ěr chū ěr)
👉 Comment your answer below!
answer: B