钻牛角尖 to get stuck in the details
Explanation
比喻费力研究不值得研究或无法解决的问题。也指思想方法狭窄。
To refer to expending effort to study problems that are not worth studying or cannot be solved. Also refers to a narrow way of thinking.
Origin Story
小明学习非常刻苦，但有时候会钻牛角尖。一次，他遇到一道数学难题，绞尽脑汁也无法解开。他反复琢磨题目的每一个细节，甚至怀疑题目本身有错误。他尝试了各种方法，却始终无法突破，最后身心俱疲，不得不放弃。老师告诉他，这道题确实很困难，但并不需要他如此执着，可以尝试换个角度思考，或者先放下，过段时间再来看。小明这才意识到自己的错误，以后做事不再钻牛角尖，效率也提高了很多。
Xiao Ming was a diligent student but sometimes got stuck in the details. Once, he encountered a difficult math problem and tried everything to solve it, to no avail. He repeatedly pondered every detail, even doubting whether the question itself was wrong. He tried many methods but still couldn't break through, eventually becoming exhausted and having to give up. The teacher told him that this problem was indeed very difficult, but he didn't need to be so persistent. Instead, he could try changing his way of thinking, or putting it aside for a while and returning to it later. Xiao Ming then realized his mistake and stopped getting stuck in the details, and his efficiency improved significantly.
Usage
通常用于形容人思想方法狭窄，或固执地追求某些细枝末节，忽略了问题的本质。
It is typically used to describe a person's narrow way of thinking or persistent pursuit of minor details while ignoring the essence of the problem.
Examples
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不要总是钻牛角尖，换个角度想想看。
bùyào zǒngshì zuān niú jiǎo jiān, huàn ge jiǎodù xiǎng xiang kàn.
Don't always nitpick, try changing the angle and thinking about it.
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这个问题太复杂了，不要钻牛角尖了。
zhège wèntí tài fùzá le, bùyào zuān niú jiǎo jiān le.
This problem is too complicated, don't get bogged down in the details.