Chinese idiom · 成语
南辕北辙
Meaning
To act contrary to one’s goal; to go in the wrong direction.
Character by character
Origin and story
Fable in political adviceIn Wei Ce IV (魏策四) of Zhanguo Ce (戰國策), Ji Liang hurries to dissuade the king of Wei from attacking Handan. He describes meeting a traveler who says he is going to Chu but is driving north. Asked about this, the traveler points to his excellent horse, ample travel funds, and skilled driver. None of these advantages changes the fact that he is taking the wrong road.
Ji Liang applies the analogy to the king: using military strength to seize territory will not necessarily bring the leadership and trust he seeks. The better the traveler’s resources, the farther they can carry him from his intended destination. The idiom describes actions that work against their purpose, and can also describe two approaches that head in opposite directions.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
本来想让会议更高效，却增加了好几道审批，这不是南辕北辙吗？
We wanted more efficient meetings, but added several layers of approval. Isn’t that taking us in the opposite direction?
Use it when the chosen action runs counter to the stated goal, rather than simply taking longer than expected.