南辕北辙 nán yuán běi zhé Southward Aim, Northward Car

Explanation

这个成语比喻行动和目的正好相反。意思是，想要到达目的地，却采取了相反的方向，最终只会离目的地越来越远。

This idiom is a metaphor for actions that are diametrically opposed to the goal. It means that although you want to achieve a goal, you take the wrong path, and thus are further and further away from your goal.

Origin Story

战国时期，魏安王决定攻打赵国都城邯郸，大臣们都反对他，季梁给他讲一个故事：太行山的一个人驾车准备到楚国去，但他却坚持往北走，这样越走越远。争霸不是靠打仗，而是靠赢得民心，靠打仗就像南辕北辙一样。魏安王决定不打仗了。

zhàn guó shí qī, wèi ān wáng jué dìng gōng dǎ zhào guó dū chéng hán dān, dà chén men dōu fǎn duì tā, jì liáng gěi tā jiǎng yī ge gù shì: tài xíng shān de yī ge rén jià chē zhǔn bèi dào chǔ guó qù, dàn tā què jiān chí wǎng běi zǒu, zhè yàng yuè zǒu yuè yuǎn. zhēng bà bù shì kào dǎ zhàng, ér shì kào yíng dé mín xīn, kào dǎ zhàng jiù xiàng nán yuán běi zhé yī yàng. wèi ān wáng jué dìng bù dǎ zhàng le.

During the Warring States Period, the King of Wei decided to attack Handan, the capital of the State of Zhao. His ministers were all against it, so Ji Liang told them a story: A man from the Taihang Mountains was driving his carriage to Chu, but he stubbornly drove north. This made him farther and farther away from his destination. To gain dominance is not by war, but by winning the hearts of the people. Fighting by war is like going south with the chariot and north with the ox - meaningless. King Wei decided not to wage war.

Usage

南辕北辙常用作比喻，表示行动和目的正好相反。比如，你想学习一门技术，却把时间都浪费在玩游戏上，那就是南辕北辙。

nán yuán běi zhé cháng yòng zuò bǐ yù, biǎo shì xíng dòng hé mù biāo zhèng hǎo xiāng fǎn. bǐ rú, nǐ xiǎng xué xí yī mén jì shù, què bǎ shí jiān dōu làng fèi zài wán yóu xì shàng, jiù shì nán yuán běi zhé.

The idiom "Southward Aim, Northward Car" is often used as a metaphor to indicate that actions and goals are diametrically opposed. For example, you want to learn a skill, but waste your time playing games, that is, going south with the chariot and north with the ox.

Examples

  • 明明知道错误的方向，却依然固执地前行，真是南辕北辙。

    míng míng zhī dào cuò wù de fāng xiàng, què yīrán gù zhí de qián xíng, zhēn shì nán yuán běi zhé.

    Knowing the wrong direction, yet still stubbornly moving forward, is like going south with the chariot and north with the ox.

  • 他们的意见南辕北辙，根本无法达成一致。

    tā men de yì jiàn nán yuán běi zhé, gēn běn wú fǎ dá chéng yī zhì.

    Their opinions are diametrically opposed, and there is no way to reach a consensus.

  • 公司的发展方向和员工的个人目标南辕北辙，导致了人员流失。

    gōng sī de fā zhǎn fāng xiàng hé yuán gōng de gè rén mù biāo nán yuán běi zhé, dǎo zhì le rén yuán liú shī.

    The company's direction of development and the employees' personal goals are diametrically opposed, leading to staff turnover.

  • 我计划去旅行，但我的朋友却计划去工作，我们的想法南辕北辙。

    wǒ jì huà qù lǚ xíng, dàn wǒ de péng you què jì huà qù gōng zuò, wǒ men de xiǎng fǎ nán yuán běi zhé.

    I plan to travel, but my friend plans to work. Our ideas are diametrically opposed.

Related Idioms

  • 背道而驰

  • 适得其反

Opposite Idioms

  • 有的放矢

  • 事半功倍