背道而驰
背道而驰 (bèi dào ér chí) literally means “gallop in opposite direction” and expresses “run directly counter to the aim”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: bei dao er chi, bei dao er chi,背道而驰 meaning, 背道而驰 in english
Run directly counter to the aim
Pronunciation: bèi dào ér chí Literal meaning: Gallop in opposite direction
Origin & Usage
Turning one's back (背) on the road (道) and galloping (驰) the other way. It belongs to Tang prose rather than to a single early parable, and it is often told with the story of the man driving north to reach Chu — but that story belongs to 南辕北辙, which is a separate idiom with its own source in the Strategies of the Warring States. The force here is in 背: the direction is not merely wrong, it is the exact opposite. Effort working directly against the goal it claims to serve.
Examples
English: "Their opinions on the matter are so different that they seem to be running in opposite directions."
Chinese: 他们在这个问题上的看法背道而驰。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
侧目而视
cè mù ér shì
Regard with fear and resentment
Learn more →
虎背熊腰
hǔ bèi xióng yāo
Strong and robust
Learn more →
望其项背
wàng qí xiàng bèi
Come close enough to rival — usually negated
Learn more →
安步当车
ān bù dàng chē
Choose simpler pleasures over status displays
Learn more →
安然无恙
ān rán wú yàng
Completely safe and unharmed through danger
Learn more →
背水一战
bèi shuǐ yī zhàn
Fight with total commitment having no retreat
Learn more →
高枕无忧
gāo zhěn wú yōu
Completely free from worry or concern
Learn more →
返璞归真
fǎn pú guī zhēn
Embrace authenticity
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 背道而驰 mean in English?
背道而驰 (bèi dào ér chí) literally translates to “Gallop in opposite direction” and is used to express “Run directly counter to the aim”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 背道而驰 used?
Situation: Their opinions on the matter are so different that they seem to be running in opposite directions.
What is the pinyin for 背道而驰?
The pinyin pronunciation for 背道而驰 is “bèi dào ér chí”.