armchair strategy; empty theorizing
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to discuss military strategy on paper; to engage in empty theorizing without practical experience
derogatoryDerived from the Warring States period story of Zhao Kuo, who could discuss military tactics theoretically but failed catastrophically when actually commanding troops at the Battle of Changping. Often used to criticize theoretical approaches that ignore practical constraints.
Wǒ我
men们
bù不
néng能
zhǐ纸
shàng上
tán谈
bīng兵
，
bì必
xū须
qù去
shí实
dì地
kǎo考
chá察
。
We can't engage in armchair theorizing; we must conduct on-site investigations.
Tā他
zhǐ只
huì会
zhǐ纸
shàng上
tán谈
bīng兵
，
gēn根
běn本
méi没
yǒu有
shí实
jì际
jīng经
yàn验
。
He only knows how to talk theory without practical experience.
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Zhì制
dìng定
zhèng政
cè策
bù不
néng能
zhǐ纸
shàng上
tán谈
bīng兵
，
yào要
kǎo考
lǜ虑
jī基
céng层
de的
shí实
jì际
qíng情
kuàng况
。
Policy-making cannot be done in a vacuum; we must consider the actual conditions at the grassroots level.
Bié别
guāng光
zhǐ纸
shàng上
tán谈
bīng兵
，
ná拿
chū出
jù具
tǐ体
fāng方
àn案
lái来
。
Don't just talk theory—come up with concrete plans.