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南辕北辙 (nán yuán běi zhé) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

南辕北辙 (nán yuán běi zhé) is a Chinese word: to go south while heading north; self-contradictory. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 南辕北辙

成语 chéng yǔ idiom

to go south while heading north; self-contradictory

你想减肥却天天吃零食，这不是南辕北辙吗？

nǐ xiǎng jiǎn féi què tiān tiān chī líng shí zhè bú shì nán yuán běi zhé ma

You want to lose weight but eat snacks every day, isn't this self-contradictory?

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Word breakdown

南 nán — south; represents the direction of the carriage shafts

Words with this character (8)
Show more (+3)

辕 yuán — shafts; the poles attached to a cart or carriage

北 běi — north; represents the direction of the wheel tracks

Words with this character (6)
Show more (+1)

辙 zhé — wheel tracks; the marks left by wheels on the ground

Words with this character (1)
Structure & writing
1 南 nán — south (one of the four cardinal directions, opposite of north)
南 is a component in 1 characters
HSK 5
献 xiàn to offer or present respectfully and solemnly

consists of

1.1 十 shí — ten (the number 9+1)
十 is a component in 29 characters
HSK 1
什 shén see "什么": ① interrogative pronoun; ② indefinite reference; ③ universal reference (used before 也/都); ④ surprise or dissatisfaction; ⑤ reproach; ⑥ disagreement; ⑦ non-exhaustive enumeration 卖 mài to sell; to exchange goods, skills, or labor for money (opposite of 买) 早 zǎo morning
HSK 2
妻 qī wife (opposite of 夫)
HSK 3
南 nán south (one of the four cardinal directions, opposite of north) 直 zhí straight; not curved (opposite of 曲)
HSK 4
克 kè to be able to; can 博 bó abundant; plentiful 叶 yè leaf (of a plant) 戴 dài to wear or put on (something on the head or body) 支 zhī to prop up; to support
Show more HSK 4 characters (+7)
毕 bì to finish, to conclude 汁 zhī juice; liquid containing certain substances 章 zhāng a section or chapter of music, poetry, or prose 计 jì to calculate; to reckon 质 zhì fundamental nature of a thing 辛 xīn pungent; spicy 针 zhēn needle or pin (slender metal tool with a point and eye or hook, used for sewing or knitting)
HSK 5
华 huá referring to China 协 xié harmonious; in accord 古 gǔ ancient; of a bygone era, opposite of 'present' 盾 dùn shield (ancient protective weapon used in battle) 索 suǒ thick rope or chain
Show more HSK 5 characters (+1)
裁 cái to arrange and select (mostly used in literary arts)
HSK 6
德 dé morality; ethical standards and norms of conduct 截 jié to cut off; to sever (something long and slender)
HSK 7
卉 huì general term for various plants (esp. ornamental grasses and flowers) 卑 bēi low; lowly 嚏 tì (lit.) to sneeze
1.2 冂 jiōng — distant outskirts or open countryside
冂 is a component in 9 characters
HSK 1
两 liǎng two (used before measure words and 半, 千, 万, 亿) 再 zài twice; a second time 高 gāo tall; high (opposite of 'low')
HSK 2
周 zhōu periphery; circle 网 wǎng net (for catching fish, birds, or animals)
HSK 3
南 nán south (one of the four cardinal directions, opposite of north)
HSK 4
内 nèi inside; interior (opposite of "外")
HSK 6
央 yāng to entreat; to beg 尚 shàng to revere; to value highly
1.3 丷 bā — divide/separate, the number eight
丷 is a component in 24 characters
HSK 1
关 guān to close; to shut 前 qián front; the direction one faces (opposite of 后) 半 bàn one half; half (used before the measure word when there is no whole number, or after when there is) 商 shāng to discuss, to consult with others 来 lái to come (toward the speaker), opposite of 去
HSK 2
旁 páng side; nearby
HSK 3
南 nán south (one of the four cardinal directions, opposite of north) 平 píng flat; level; even (like the surface of still water) 总 zǒng to gather together, to assemble
HSK 4
产 chǎn to give birth 并 bìng to merge; to combine into one 幸 xìng happy; fortunate 首 shǒu head; skull
HSK 5
善 shàn kind; benevolent; charitable (opposite of 恶)
HSK 6
兼 jiān doubled; combining two portions into one 夹 jiā to clamp; to press from both sides to hold something in place 帝 dì supreme deity or ruler of the universe in religion or mythology
HSK 7
兑 duì exchange (old gold or silver items for new ones at a jewelry shop) 兽 shòu beast; mammal (generally referring to four-legged, fur-covered mammals) 凿 záo chisel (a hand tool with a blade for carving or boring) 啬 sè miserly, stingy with money or possessions 逆 nì to go in the opposite direction (opposite of 顺)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+2)
邃 suì deep and distant (of time or space) 隧 suì tunnel; underground or mountain passage
1.4 干 gān — shield (ancient weapon)
Xpinyin
干 is a component in 15 characters
HSK 1
午 wǔ the seventh of the twelve Earthly Branches
HSK 3
南 nán south (one of the four cardinal directions, opposite of north) 平 píng flat; level; even (like the surface of still water)
HSK 4
幸 xìng happy; fortunate 汗 hàn sweat; perspiration secreted by the skin 赶 gǎn to chase; to arrive in time
HSK 6
刊 kān to delete and revise 岸 àn shore; bank; coast (of a river, lake, sea, etc.) 旱 hàn drought; dry (opposite of 涝) 罕 hǎn rare; scarce 肝 gān liver (digestive organ in humans and higher animals)
HSK 7
凿 záo chisel (a hand tool with a blade for carving or boring) 奸 jiān hypocritical and cunning 杆 gǎn the slender, rod-like part of an object (including hollow ones) 竿 gān bamboo pole, the main stem of bamboo

Stroke order

2 辕 yuán — the two shafts at the front of a large cart for harnessing animals

辕 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

2.1 车 chē — wheeled land vehicle
车 is a component in 27 characters
HSK 3
轻 qīng light in weight; low in density (opposite of '重') 较 jiào to compare (size, degree, etc.) 辆 liàng measure word for vehicles
HSK 4
转 zhuǎn to rotate; to change direction or situation 输 shū to transport from one place to another 连 lián to connect, to link
HSK 5
军 jūn armed forces; military 库 kù storehouse; warehouse; storage facility 软 ruǎn soft, not firm (opposite of 硬) 载 zài to load (onto a vehicle or vessel) 辑 jí to collect and compile (materials into a book)
Show more HSK 5 characters (+1)
阵 zhèn battle formation (arrangement of troops in combat)
HSK 6
轨 guǐ the distance between two wheels of a vehicle; rut left by wheels 轮 lún wheel 辅 fǔ to assist; to aid 辈 bèi generation; order of seniority in a family
HSK 7
撵 niǎn to expel, drive away 斩 zhǎn to chop off; to behead 舆 yú (lit.) carriage; cart 轰 hōng boom; bang (sound of thunder, cannon, explosion, etc.) 轴 zhóu axle; shaft (cylindrical mechanical part around which wheels or components rotate)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+6)
轿 jiào sedan chair; a traditional enclosed conveyance of bamboo or wood, draped with cloth, carried by bearers or on horseback 辐 fú spoke (of a wheel) 辕 yuán the two shafts at the front of a large cart for harnessing animals 辖 xiá linchpin (iron pin through an axle hub to keep the wheel in place) 辗 zhǎn used in "辗转": ① tossing and turning (of the body); ② passing through many places or hands; moving in a roundabout way 辙 zhé rut; track left by a wheel
2.2 袁 yuán — a surname
袁 is a component in 1 characters
HSK 7
辕 yuán the two shafts at the front of a large cart for harnessing animals

Stroke order

3 北 běi — north (the direction to one's left when facing the morning sun, opposite of 'south')
北 is a component in 4 characters
HSK 4
乘 chéng to ride; to travel by (vehicle or animal) 背 bèi back (of the upper body, opposite the chest and abdomen)
HSK 7
乖 guāi obedient, well-behaved (of a child) 燕 yàn swallow (bird with small body, long pointed wings, and forked tail)

北 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

4 辙 zhé — rut; track left by a wheel

辙 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

4.1 车 chē — wheeled land vehicle
车 is a component in 27 characters
HSK 3
轻 qīng light in weight; low in density (opposite of '重') 较 jiào to compare (size, degree, etc.) 辆 liàng measure word for vehicles
HSK 4
转 zhuǎn to rotate; to change direction or situation 输 shū to transport from one place to another 连 lián to connect, to link
HSK 5
军 jūn armed forces; military 库 kù storehouse; warehouse; storage facility 软 ruǎn soft, not firm (opposite of 硬) 载 zài to load (onto a vehicle or vessel) 辑 jí to collect and compile (materials into a book)
Show more HSK 5 characters (+1)
阵 zhèn battle formation (arrangement of troops in combat)
HSK 6
轨 guǐ the distance between two wheels of a vehicle; rut left by wheels 轮 lún wheel 辅 fǔ to assist; to aid 辈 bèi generation; order of seniority in a family
HSK 7
撵 niǎn to expel, drive away 斩 zhǎn to chop off; to behead 舆 yú (lit.) carriage; cart 轰 hōng boom; bang (sound of thunder, cannon, explosion, etc.) 轴 zhóu axle; shaft (cylindrical mechanical part around which wheels or components rotate)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+6)
轿 jiào sedan chair; a traditional enclosed conveyance of bamboo or wood, draped with cloth, carried by bearers or on horseback 辐 fú spoke (of a wheel) 辕 yuán the two shafts at the front of a large cart for harnessing animals 辖 xiá linchpin (iron pin through an axle hub to keep the wheel in place) 辗 zhǎn used in "辗转": ① tossing and turning (of the body); ② passing through many places or hands; moving in a roundabout way 辙 zhé rut; track left by a wheel
4.2 育 yù — to give birth to
育 is a component in 3 characters
HSK 6
撤 chè to remove; to cancel
HSK 7
澈 chè clear and transparent (of water) 辙 zhé rut; track left by a wheel
4.3 攵 pū — light strike/tap radical
攵 is a component in 28 characters
HSK 2
教 jiào to teach; to educate
HSK 3
收 shōu bring in; gather together 放 fàng to release; to set free 故 gù reason; cause 数 shù number; quantity
HSK 4
微 wēi tiny; slight 改 gǎi to revise; to modify 效 xiào effect, function, result 败 bài to lose (a war or competition, opposite of 胜)
HSK 5
政 zhèng politics; affairs of state 敌 dí hostile; antagonistic 敏 mǐn intelligent, quick-witted, agile 救 jiù to help someone out of difficulty, danger, or disaster 敬 jìng to respect, to treat with courtesy
Show more HSK 5 characters (+2)
玫 méi (lit.) a type of beautiful stone or jade 致 zhì to give; to express (courtesy, goodwill, etc.) to someone
HSK 6
撤 chè to remove; to cancel 攻 gōng to attack, assault; opposite of 'defend'
HSK 7
徽 huī emblem; badge; insignia 敛 liǎn (lit.) to draw in; to hold back 敞 chǎng (of buildings, courtyards, etc.) spacious and open; unobstructed 敦 dūn to urge; to encourage 敷 fū to apply (ointment, powder, etc.)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+5)
枚 méi a counter for small objects (similar to 个), one by one 澈 chè clear and transparent (of water) 牧 mù to herd (livestock or poultry) outdoors to graze or roam 肇 zhào (class.) to begin; to start 辙 zhé rut; track left by a wheel

Stroke order