倒行逆施
倒行逆施 (dào xíng nì shī) literally means “go backwards act against” and expresses “defy norms”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: dao xing ni shi, dao xing ni shi,倒行逆施 meaning, 倒行逆施 in english
Defy norms
Pronunciation: dào xíng nì shī Literal meaning: Go backwards act against
Origin & Usage
The idiom 倒行逆施 (dào xíng nì shī) originates from the historical account of Wu Zixu in the 'Records of the Grand Historian' (史记, Shǐjì) by Sima Qian. During the late Spring and Autumn period, Wu Zixu's father and brother were unjustly executed by King Ping of Chu. Seeking revenge, Wu Zixu fled to the state of Wu and helped King Helü overthrow the ruling Wu king. He then advised the destruction of Chu's ancestral temples and desecrated King Ping's tomb, actions seen as contrary to conventional morals. The idiom literally means 'to go backwards and act against the norm' (倒, backward; 行, go; 逆, against; 施, act). In modern usage, it describes actions that defy common sense or social norms, often with negative connotations, but can also imply innovative thinking in certain contexts.
Examples
English: "His reckless decisions led to chaos in the organization."
Chinese: 他的鲁莽决定导致了组织的混乱。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 倒行逆施 mean in English?
倒行逆施 (dào xíng nì shī) literally translates to “Go backwards act against” and is used to express “Defy norms”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 倒行逆施 used?
Situation: His reckless decisions led to chaos in the organization.
What is the pinyin for 倒行逆施?
The pinyin pronunciation for 倒行逆施 is “dào xíng nì shī”.