南辕北辙
南辕北辙 (nán yuán běi zhé) literally means “shafts point south, ruts run north” and expresses “actions contrary to one's goals”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: nan yuan bei zhe, nan yuan bei zhe,南辕北辙 meaning, 南辕北辙 in english
Actions contrary to one's goals
Pronunciation: nán yuán běi zhé Literal meaning: Shafts point south, ruts run north
Origin & Usage
The Strategies of the Warring States tells of a man who wanted to travel to the southern state of Chu and drove his carriage north. When asked why, he boasted of his fast horses, skilled driver, and ample provisions, failing to realize that these advantages would only take him further from his destination. The characters name the contradiction outright: the carriage shafts (辕) point south (南) while the wheel ruts (辙) run north (北). Having resources means nothing if the direction is wrong. Effort that is carrying somebody steadily further from what they said they wanted.
Examples
English: "His business strategy was completely counterproductive to his stated goals."
Chinese: 他的商业策略与既定目标南辕北辙。
Related Chinese Idioms
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刻舟求剑
kè zhōu qiú jiàn
Using outdated methods foolishly
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闭门造车
bì mén zào chē
Creating without practical feedback
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班门弄斧
bān mén nòng fǔ
Showing amateur skills to masters
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盲人摸象
máng rén mō xiàng
Mistaking partial knowledge for complete wisdom
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邯郸学步
hán dān xué bù
Lose abilities through misguided imitation
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身临其境
shēn lín qí jìng
Feel as if personally present
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画蛇添足
huà shé tiān zú
Ruin by adding extras
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亡羊补牢
wáng yáng bǔ láo
Never too late to fix
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 南辕北辙 mean in English?
南辕北辙 (nán yuán běi zhé) literally translates to “Shafts point south, ruts run north” and is used to express “Actions contrary to one's goals”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 南辕北辙 used?
Situation: His business strategy was completely counterproductive to his stated goals.
What is the pinyin for 南辕北辙?
The pinyin pronunciation for 南辕北辙 is “nán yuán běi zhé”.
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