Meaning
This idiom literally means 'the shaft points south while the wheels go north.' It describes a situation where someone's actions completely contradict their stated goal, making success impossible. The phrase comes from a classical story about a man who wanted to travel to the southern state of Chu but insisted on heading north, arguing he had a fast horse and plenty of money.
Usage
Used in both spoken and written Mandarin to criticize methods or approaches that contradict the desired outcome. Common in formal writing, news commentary, and educated speech. Often appears with 背道而驰 in similar contexts. Typically used to point out logical contradictions between means and ends.
Examples
- 01他一边说要节约开支，一边却大肆购买奢侈品，这种做法简直是南辕北辙。, , .He talks about cutting expenses while lavishly buying luxury goods—this approach is completely self-defeating.
- 02如果教育方法与教育目标南辕北辙，再努力也不会取得好的效果。, .If educational methods run counter to educational goals, no amount of effort will achieve good results.
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Antonyms
Origin
From the ancient text 'Strategies of the Warring States' (战国策). A man wanted to go to Chu (in the south) but traveled north. When questioned, he claimed his horse was excellent and he had ample provisions, not realizing these advantages were useless when going the wrong direction.