Wrong bark in the tree (?)

[Jan Finster]

What does this mean? 

那 就是 在 树错 了 树皮

 

Something like "That is the wrong bark in the tree" (?)

I still have no clue what it means...

 

[Shelley]

Barking up the wrong tree ?      maybe perhaps?

[Jan Finster]

2 hours ago, Shelley said:

Barking up the wrong tree ?      maybe perhaps

 

Thanks, but I do not think so, since 树皮 is the "skin of the tree" (as in "bark", rind, crust)

Edited February 20, 2020 at 02:19 PM by Jan Finster
grammar

[Jim]

Bit more context? Chance of a pun on 数错?

[889]

说错？

[Jan Finster]

7 hours ago, Jim said:

Bit more context?

It is from "All is Well" (都挺好)  Episode 36:

 

Here is the dialogue:

这 就是 为什么 他们 开始 变得 浮躁 。

如果 不是 给 你 爸爸 的话 ， 你 妈妈 现在 将 入狱 。

退出 虚张声势 ！

我 叔叔 说 你 和 我 父亲 联手 将 他们 踢出 中 城 。

你 可以 怪 我

但是 如果 你 责怪 你 的 父亲 ， 那 就是 在 树错 了 树皮 。

如果 不是 为了 你 叔叔 搞 集团 和 搞乱

中 成 ， 我们 不必 那样 做 。

 

Google translator says (about the line in bold): "But if you blame your father, you are wrongly barking the tree." So maybe not as Shelley suggested barking up the wrong tree, but as in "barking a tree" (as in removing the bark) (?) Would that mean "harming it" (?) 

Is this a common thing to say in Chinese?

[Jim]

Not much the wiser but since it comes in the context of 责怪 and he's saying it is the uncle to blame not the dad, I do wonder if it's a pun on 数错 - criticised in error, 数 working as in 数罪 数落. Not a turn of phrase I've ever seen.

[889]

When does the dialogue appear? Sometimes subtitles don't perfectly reflect what's said on screen. And even if the subtitles are correct, the actor's intonation helps.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ExzyAG3qtQg

 

You might also post your question as a Youtube comment there.