ぬか
糠
　
に
くぎ
釘

expression, noun

Idiomatic expression.
  1. having no effect, waste of effort.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
ぬか
糠
　
に
くぎ
釘
 糠に釘 ぬかにくぎ
　
ぬ
　
か
　
に
くぎ
釘
 ぬかに釘 ぬかにくぎ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

rice bran
ぬか　コウ (Kentei Pre-1)
rice, USA, metre
ベイ　こめ　マイ (2nd, N3)
to divide
tree, wood
き　モク　こ- (1st, N5)
ease, peace
コウ　かん　こ (4th, N1)
dotted cliff radical (no. 53)
ゲン (Kentei 1)
wild goose, trailing cliff radical (no. 27)
カン　かりがね (Kentei 1)
extend, give, cast
タイ (Kentei 1)
snout, hand
water radical variant (no. 85)
スイ
nail, tack, peg
くぎ　テイ　チョウ (Kentei Pre-1)
gold
キン　きむ　かね (1st, N5)
whole, entire, all
ゼン　すべ.て　まった.く (3rd, N3)
person
ひと　ニン　ジン (1st, N5)
king, rule, magnate
オウ　-ノウ　おお (1st, N3)
to divide
street, ward, town
チョウ　テイ　チン (3rd, N1)