闭门造车(閉門造車)
闭门造车 (bì mén zào chē) literally means “build cart behind closed doors”and expresses “creating without practical feedback”.This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom & learning.
Also searched as: bi men zao che, bi men zao che,闭门造车 meaning, 闭门造车 in english
Pronunciation: bì mén zào chē Literal meaning: Build cart behind closed doors
Origin & Usage
This isolated idiom describes building (造) a cart (车) behind closed (闭) doors (门), originating from the Warring States period text 'Hanfeizi.' It tells of a man who crafted a carriage in isolation, only to discover it couldn't fit through doorways or navigate common roads. The tale gained prominence during the Han Dynasty as governance advisors cautioned against developing policies without understanding real-world conditions. The specific reference to carriage-making was meaningful as it represented complex engineering requiring practical adaptation. Modern usage criticizes theoretical development without practical testing or feedback, particularly relevant in product design, policy creation, and educational methods where disconnection from actual users often leads to impractical results.
When to Use
Situation: The product failed because developers designed it without customer feedback
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
得心应手
dé xīn yìng shǒu
Work with great ease; have complete mastery
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驾轻就熟
jià qīng jiù shú
Be very familiar with; handle with expertise
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qīng chē shú lù
Be experienced; find something easy due to familiarity
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游刃有余
yóu rèn yǒu yú
Handle with ease; have skill to spare
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成竹在胸
chéng zhú zài xiōng
Have a well-thought-out plan; be confident
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适可而止
shì kě ér zhǐ
Stop at the right point; practice moderation
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见好就收
jiàn hǎo jiù shōu
Quit while ahead; take profits
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急流勇退
jí liú yǒng tuì
Retire at the peak; know when to quit
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 闭门造车 mean in English?
闭门造车 (bì mén zào chē) literally translates to “Build cart behind closed doors”and is used to express “Creating without practical feedback”. This Chinese idiom belongs to theWisdom & Learning category..
When is 闭门造车 used?
Situation: The product failed because developers designed it without customer feedback
What is the pinyin for 闭门造车?
The pinyin pronunciation for 闭门造车 is “bì mén zào chē”.