JLPT N3Proverbs

猫に小判

Meaning
価値の分からない者に貴重な物を与えても無駄である
Explanation
「猫に小判」 expresses that even if you give something valuable to a person who does not understand its worth, they will not appreciate its merit and it will go to waste. It comes from the fact that even if you give a cat expensive money, it will not be pleased. It does not mean c4's 「お金を大事に使う」 (to use money carefully).
Original Japanese explanation

「猫に小判」は、価値の分からない人に貴重な物を与えても、その良さが分からず無駄になることを表します。猫に高価なお金をあげても喜ばないことが由来です。c4 の「お金を大事に使う」という意味ではありません。

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