南辕北辙 meaning and pronunciation

南辕北辙
Simplified word
南轅北轍
Traditional word

南辕北辙 English definition

nán yuán běi zhé

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

HSK level

Characters

  • 南 (nán): south;
  • 辕 (yuán): shafts of a cart or carriage
  • 北 (běi): north; to be defeated (classical);
  • 辙 (zhé): rut; track; rhyme; (dialect) way; method;