nán yuán běi zhé

Traditional: 南轅北轍

南辕北辙 (nán yuán běi zhé) is a Chinese word meaning “to act in a way that defeats one's purpose (idiom)”.

Meanings

  1. 1to act in a way that defeats one's purpose (idiom)

Characters in 南辕北辙

南nā · used in 南無|南无[na1 mo2]辕yuán · shaft of a cart or carriage北běi · north辙zhé · rut; track of a wheel (Taiwan pr. [che4])

Related words

南used in 南無|南无[na1 mo2]南south南surname Nan北north南方south; southern direction越南Vietnam南部southern part北方north南瓜pumpkin北部northern part北边north指南to guide

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