act contrary to purpose; go in opposite direction
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to act in a way that contradicts one's goal; to go south by driving the chariot north
formalOriginating from ancient Chinese literature (e.g., Han Feizi), this idiom describes a situation where one's actions are diametrically opposed to one's intentions, resulting in moving further away from the goal.
Nǐ你
zhè这
yàng样
zuò做
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
nán南
yuán辕
běi北
zhé辙
，
lí离
mù目
biāo标
yuè越
lái来
yuè越
yuǎn远
。
What you're doing is simply going in the opposite direction, getting further and further from your goal.
Rú如
guǒ果
bù不
gǎi改
biàn变
cè策
lüè略
，
wǒ我
men们
de的
nǔ努
lì力
zhǐ只
huì会
nán南
yuán辕
běi北
zhé辙
。
If we don't change our strategy, our efforts will only backfire and move us away from our objectives.
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Tā他
de的
xiǎng想
fǎ法
hé和
xíng行
dòng动
nán南
yuán辕
běi北
zhé辙
，
suǒ所
yǐ以
zǒng总
shì是
shī失
bài败
。
His thoughts and actions are diametrically opposed, which is why he always fails.
Zài在
zhè这
gè个
wèn问
tí题
shàng上
，
zhèng政
fǔ府
de的
zhèng政
cè策
yǔ与
mín民
zhòng众
de的
xū需
qiú求
nán南
yuán辕
běi北
zhé辙
。
On this issue, the government's policies run counter to the needs of the people.