纸上谈兵
Being an Armchair Strategist
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The historical story of Zhao Kuo during the Warring States period.
40 new words
纸上谈兵zhǐshàng tánbīngto be an armchair strategist
纸上谈兵一语，常用来批评只会讲理论、不会处理实际军事问题的人。
军事jūnshìmilitary affairs
纸上谈兵一语，常用来批评只会讲理论、不会处理实际军事问题的人。
敌(人)dí (rén)enemy
理论lǐlùntheory
纸上谈兵一语，常用来批评只会讲理论、不会处理实际军事问题的人。
作战zuòzhànto fight a battle
公元前，中国处在战国时代，各国作战频繁，军队的胜利不只取决于书上的道理，还取决于地形、粮食、命令和士兵的状态。
毛病máobìngshortcoming, weakness
那位年轻人轻视经验，很快暴露了毛病，也没有作出独立判断。
The young commander underestimated experience, quickly revealed his shortcomings, and could not make independent judgments.
道理dàolǐprinciple, theory
公元前，中国处在战国时代，各国作战频繁，军队的胜利不只取决于书上的道理，还取决于地形、粮食、命令和士兵的状态。
迟早chízǎoadv. sooner or later
他相信敌人较弱，迟早会后退，便要求士兵绝对服从。
军队jūnduìarmy
公元前，中国处在战国时代，各国作战频繁，军队的胜利不只取决于书上的道理，还取决于地形、粮食、命令和士兵的状态。
派pàito send, to assign
新主将下令改变防守，派军队向前推进。
弱ruòadj. weak
他相信敌人较弱，迟早会后退，便要求士兵绝对服从。
形势xíngshìsituation, state of affairs
可是，年长将领认为他单独统领部队的资格还不够：地图上的形势，和战场上随时改变的形势有很大差别。
Older generals, however, believed he was not qualified to command independently: the situation on a map differs greatly from one that changes on a battlefield.
命令mìnglìngn./v. to command; order
公元前，中国处在战国时代，各国作战频繁，军队的胜利不只取决于书上的道理，还取决于地形、粮食、命令和士兵的状态。
守shǒuto guard, to defend
后来敌人先制造谣言，到各处散布消息，声称赵军主将胆小鬼似的只会守阵地，不敢主动挑战。
Later, the enemy first invented a rumour and spread it everywhere, claiming that Zhao's commander was cowardly and knew only how to defend a position, not to challenge the enemy actively.
阵地zhèndìposition, front
后来敌人先制造谣言，到各处散布消息，声称赵军主将胆小鬼似的只会守阵地，不敢主动挑战。
Later, the enemy first invented a rumour and spread it everywhere, claiming that Zhao's commander was cowardly and knew only how to defend a position, not to challenge the enemy actively.
绝对juéduìadv./adj. absolutely, definitely; absolute
他相信敌人较弱，迟早会后退，便要求士兵绝对服从。
主动zhǔdòngadj. on one's own initiative
后来敌人先制造谣言，到各处散布消息，声称赵军主将胆小鬼似的只会守阵地，不敢主动挑战。
Later, the enemy first invented a rumour and spread it everywhere, claiming that Zhao's commander was cowardly and knew only how to defend a position, not to challenge the enemy actively.
挑战tiǎozhànv./n. to challenge, to battle; challenge
后来敌人先制造谣言，到各处散布消息，声称赵军主将胆小鬼似的只会守阵地，不敢主动挑战。
Later, the enemy first invented a rumour and spread it everywhere, claiming that Zhao's commander was cowardly and knew only how to defend a position, not to challenge the enemy actively.
骂màto curse, to call names
方案可以先写在纸上，却不能代替现场观察；听到不同意见时，既不必害怕，也不应说骂人的话，更不应指责别人多事。
胆小鬼dǎnxiǎoguǐcoward
后来敌人先制造谣言，到各处散布消息，声称赵军主将胆小鬼似的只会守阵地，不敢主动挑战。
Later, the enemy first invented a rumour and spread it everywhere, claiming that Zhao's commander was cowardly and knew only how to defend a position, not to challenge the enemy actively.
胜利shènglìv. to win a victory
公元前，中国处在战国时代，各国作战频繁，军队的胜利不只取决于书上的道理，还取决于地形、粮食、命令和士兵的状态。
调(动)diào (dòng)to transfer, to shift
散布sànbùto spread, to disseminate
后来敌人先制造谣言，到各处散布消息，声称赵军主将胆小鬼似的只会守阵地，不敢主动挑战。
Later, the enemy first invented a rumour and spread it everywhere, claiming that Zhao's commander was cowardly and knew only how to defend a position, not to challenge the enemy actively.
谣言yáoyánrumor
后来敌人先制造谣言，到各处散布消息，声称赵军主将胆小鬼似的只会守阵地，不敢主动挑战。
Later, the enemy first invented a rumour and spread it everywhere, claiming that Zhao's commander was cowardly and knew only how to defend a position, not to challenge the enemy actively.
上当shàng dàngto be taken in, to be deceived
赵王听后上当。
King Zhao was fooled.
再三zàisānadv. again and again
赵王做决定前虽曾再三考虑，还是任命了年轻人。
King Zhao had considered the decision repeatedly, but ultimately appointed the young man.
阻止zǔzhǐto stop, to prevent
大臣试图阻止这项任命，赵王却仍决定让那位年轻人替换原来的将领。
Ministers tried to stop the appointment, but he still decided to let the young man replace the original commander.
任命rènmìngto appoint
大臣试图阻止这项任命，赵王却仍决定让那位年轻人替换原来的将领。
Ministers tried to stop the appointment, but he still decided to let the young man replace the original commander.
独立dúlìto be on one's own
那位年轻人轻视经验，很快暴露了毛病，也没有作出独立判断。
The young commander underestimated experience, quickly revealed his shortcomings, and could not make independent judgments.
资格zīgéqualification
可是，年长将领认为他单独统领部队的资格还不够：地图上的形势，和战场上随时改变的形势有很大差别。
Older generals, however, believed he was not qualified to command independently: the situation on a map differs greatly from one that changes on a battlefield.
糊涂hútúadj. muddleheaded
战斗失败后，许多人很困惑，甚至有些糊涂：理论本身没有错，为什么结果这么严重？
After the defeat, many people felt deeply puzzled and even muddled: if theory itself was not wrong, why was the result so serious?
公元gōngyuánChristian era
公元前，中国处在战国时代，各国作战频繁，军队的胜利不只取决于书上的道理，还取决于地形、粮食、命令和士兵的状态。
盲目mángmùadj. blind, ignorant
问题在于他把书本当成唯一标准，盲目套用旧办法，没有根据地势、人数和敌军行动灵活判断。
The problem was treating books as the only standard, blindly applying an old method, and failing to judge flexibly from terrain, numbers, and enemy action.
轻视qīngshìto look down upon, to belittle
那位年轻人轻视经验，很快暴露了毛病，也没有作出独立判断。
The young commander underestimated experience, quickly revealed his shortcomings, and could not make independent judgments.
方案fāng'ànplan, scheme
他能把许多旧战例讲得很清楚，也善于提出进攻方案，因此得到一些人的称赞。
He could explain many old battles clearly and was good at proposing attack plans, so some people praised him.
进攻jìngōngto attack, to assault
他能把许多旧战例讲得很清楚，也善于提出进攻方案，因此得到一些人的称赞。
He could explain many old battles clearly and was good at proposing attack plans, so some people praised him.
宝贵bǎoguìadj. precious, valuable
理论是宝贵的工具，可以帮助我们认识道理；但只有经过实际训练和反复检验，知识才会成为能力。
Theory is a valuable tool that helps us understand principles, but knowledge becomes ability only through real training and repeated testing.
讽刺fěngcìto satirize
纸上谈兵所讽刺的，正是把准备误当成经验。
What the idiom mocks is mistaking preparation for experience.
灵活línghuóadj. flexible, elastic
问题在于他把书本当成唯一标准，盲目套用旧办法，没有根据地势、人数和敌军行动灵活判断。
The problem was treating books as the only standard, blindly applying an old method, and failing to judge flexibly from terrain, numbers, and enemy action.
善于shànyúto be good at
他能把许多旧战例讲得很清楚，也善于提出进攻方案，因此得到一些人的称赞。
He could explain many old battles clearly and was good at proposing attack plans, so some people praised him.
Listen to the text
纸上谈兵一语，常用来批评只会讲理论、不会处理实际军事问题的人。公元前，中国处在战国时代，各国作战频繁，军队的胜利不只取决于书上的道理，还取决于地形、粮食、命令和士兵的状态。
zhǐshàng tánbīng yī yǔ， cháng yòng lái pī píng zhǐ huì jiǎng lǐlùn、 bù huì chù lǐ shí jì jūnshì wèn tí de rén。 gōngyuán qián， zhōng guó chù zài zhàn guó shí dài， gè guó zuòzhàn pín fán， jūnduì de shènglì bù zhǐ qǔ jué yú shū shàng de dàolǐ， hái qǔ jué yú dì xíng、 liáng shí、 mìnglìng hé shì bīng de zhuàng tài。
The idiom zhishang tanbing, literally 'discussing warfare on paper,' often criticises people who can speak only of theory and cannot handle real military problems. In the Warring States period before the Common Era, armies fought frequently. Victory depended not only on written principles but also on terrain, food, orders, and the condition of soldiers.
赵国有一位年轻人，从小喜欢谈军事。他能把许多旧战例讲得很清楚，也善于提出进攻方案，因此得到一些人的称赞。可是，年长将领认为他单独统领部队的资格还不够：地图上的形势，和战场上随时改变的形势有很大差别。
zhào guó yǒu yī wèi nián qīng rén， cóng xiǎo xǐ huān tán jūnshì。 tā néng bǎ xǔ duō jiù zhàn lì jiǎng dé hěn qīng chǔ， yě shànyú tí chū jìngōng fāng'àn， yīn cǐ dé dào yī xiē rén de chēng zàn。 kě shì， nián zhǎng jiāng lǐng rèn wèi tā dān dú tǒng lǐng bù duì de zīgé hái bù gòu： dì tú shàng de xíngshì， hé zhàn chǎng shàng suí shí gǎi biàn de xíngshì yǒu hěn dà chà bié。
A young man in Zhao loved discussing military matters from childhood. He could explain many old battles clearly and was good at proposing attack plans, so some people praised him. Older generals, however, believed he was not qualified to command independently: the situation on a map differs greatly from one that changes on a battlefield.
后来敌人先制造谣言，到各处散布消息，声称赵军主将胆小鬼似的只会守阵地，不敢主动挑战。赵王听后上当。大臣试图阻止这项任命，赵王却仍决定让那位年轻人替换原来的将领。赵王做决定前虽曾再三考虑，还是任命了年轻人。那位年轻人轻视经验，很快暴露了毛病，也没有作出独立判断。
hòu lái dí rén xiān zhì zào yáoyán， dào gè chù sànbù xiāo xī， shēng chēng zhào jūn zhǔ jiāng dǎnxiǎoguǐ shì de zhǐ huì shǒu zhèndì， bù gǎn zhǔdòng tiǎozhàn。 zhào wáng tīng hòu shàng dàng。 dà chén shì tú zǔzhǐ zhè xiàng rènmìng， zhào wáng què réng jué dìng ràng nà wèi nián qīng rén tì huàn yuán lái de jiāng lǐng。 zhào wáng zuò jué dìng qián suī céng zàisān kǎo lǜ， hái shì rènmìng le nián qīng rén。 nà wèi nián qīng rén qīngshì jīng yàn， hěn kuài bào lù le máobìng， yě méi yǒu zuò chū dúlì pàn duàn。
Later, the enemy first invented a rumour and spread it everywhere, claiming that Zhao's commander was cowardly and knew only how to defend a position, not to challenge the enemy actively. King Zhao was fooled. Ministers tried to stop the appointment, but he still decided to let the young man replace the original commander. King Zhao had considered the decision repeatedly, but ultimately appointed the young man. The young commander underestimated experience, quickly revealed his shortcomings, and could not make independent judgments.
新主将下令改变防守，派军队向前推进。他相信敌人较弱，迟早会后退，便要求士兵绝对服从。实际上，对方早已准备好包围；赵军的粮道被切断，调动困难，原来写得漂亮的计划无法应付变化。
xīn zhǔ jiāng xià lìng gǎi biàn fáng shǒu， pài jūnduì xiàng qián tuī jìn。 tā xiāng xìn dí rén jiào ruò， chízǎo huì hòu tuì， biàn yào qiú shì bīng juéduì fú cóng。 shí jì shàng， duì fāng zǎo yǐ zhǔn bèi hǎo bāo wéi； zhào jūn de liáng dào bèi qiè duàn， diào dòng kùn nán， yuán lái xiě dé piāo liàng de jì huà wú fǎ yīng fù biàn huà。
The new commander ordered a change from defence and sent the army forward. Believing the enemy weak and bound to retreat sooner or later, he demanded absolute obedience. In fact, the other side had prepared an encirclement. Zhao's food route was cut, movements became difficult, and the elegant written plan could not handle change.
战斗失败后，许多人很困惑，甚至有些糊涂：理论本身没有错，为什么结果这么严重？问题在于他把书本当成唯一标准，盲目套用旧办法，没有根据地势、人数和敌军行动灵活判断。
zhàn dòu shī bài hòu， xǔ duō rén hěn kùn huò， shèn zhì yǒu xiē hútú： lǐlùn běn shēn méi yǒu cuò， wèi shén me jié guǒ zhè me yán zhòng？ wèn tí zài yú tā bǎ shū běn dāng chéng wéi yī biāo zhǔn， mángmù tào yòng jiù bàn fǎ， méi yǒu gēn jù dì shì、 rén shù hé dí jūn xíng dòng línghuó pàn duàn。
After the defeat, many people felt deeply puzzled and even muddled: if theory itself was not wrong, why was the result so serious? The problem was treating books as the only standard, blindly applying an old method, and failing to judge flexibly from terrain, numbers, and enemy action.
这个故事不是要人们拒绝学习军事知识。理论是宝贵的工具，可以帮助我们认识道理；但只有经过实际训练和反复检验，知识才会成为能力。纸上谈兵所讽刺的，正是把准备误当成经验。
zhè gè gù shì bù shì yào rén men jù jué xué xí jūnshì zhī shí。 lǐlùn shì bǎoguì de gōng jù， kě yǐ bāng zhù wǒ men rèn shí dàolǐ； dàn zhǐ yǒu jīng guò shí jì xùn liàn hé fǎn fù jiǎn yàn， zhī shí cái huì chéng wèi néng lì。 zhǐshàng tánbīng suǒ fěngcì de， zhèng shì bǎ zhǔn bèi wù dāng chéng jīng yàn。
The story does not tell us to reject military knowledge. Theory is a valuable tool that helps us understand principles, but knowledge becomes ability only through real training and repeated testing. What the idiom mocks is mistaking preparation for experience.
面对工作和生活中的难题也是如此。方案可以先写在纸上，却不能代替现场观察；听到不同意见时，既不必害怕，也不应说骂人的话，更不应指责别人多事。把知识和行动结合，才更有可能取得真正的胜利。
miàn duì gōng zuò hé shēng huó zhōng de nán tí yě shì rú cǐ。 fāng'àn kě yǐ xiān xiě zài zhǐ shàng， què bù néng dài tì xiàn chǎng guān chá； tīng dào bù tóng yì jiàn shí， jì bù bì hài pà， yě bù yīng shuō mà rén de huà， gèng bù yīng zhǐ zé bié rén duō shì。 bǎ zhī shí hé xíng dòng jié hé， cái gèng yǒu kě néng qǔ dé zhēn zhèng de shènglì。
The same is true of problems in work and life. A plan can first be written on paper, but it cannot replace observation on the spot. When we hear other views, we need neither fear them nor respond with insulting words, much less accuse others of being troublesome. Combining knowledge with action makes real victory more likely.
Tap a marked word for its meaning. Tap a line to see the English.
Grammar
他能把许多旧战例讲得很清楚，也善于提出进攻方案，因此得到一些人的称赞。He could explain many old battles clearly and was good at proposing attack plans, so some people praised him.
动词+得/不+过
过. '过' as a directional verb complement means to surpass or exceed someone in some action.
跟别人谈论起军事来，没有人说得过他。
Gēn biérén tánlùn qǐ jūnshì lái, méiyǒu rén shuō de guò tā.
When discussing military affairs with others, no one could argue with him better.
他相信敌人较弱，迟早会后退，便要求士兵绝对服从。
迟早+ Predicate
迟早. '迟早' is an adverb indicating that something will definitely happen at some point, though the timing is uncertain.
如果让他当了大将，迟早会害了赵国。
Rúguǒ ràng tā dāngle dàjiàng, chízǎo huì hàile Zhàoguó.
If he becomes a general, he will sooner or later harm the State of Zhao.
赵王做决定前虽曾再三考虑，还是任命了年轻人。King Zhao had considered the decision repeatedly, but ultimately appointed the young man.
再三+ Verb
再三. '再三' is an adverb meaning 'again and again' or 'repeatedly', often used with verbs without objects.
赵括的母亲再三阻止赵王任命儿子为大将。
Zhào Kuò de mǔqīn zàisān zǔzhǐ Zhào Wáng rènmìng érzi wéi dàjiàng.
Zhao Kuo's mother repeatedly tried to stop the king from appointing her son as general.
Which word means “flexible, elastic”?
Culture
理论与实际的关系 - The Relationship Between Theory and Practice
Theory helps people understand patterns, while practical experience tests whether those patterns apply. When learning a skill, remembering book knowledge is not enough; practice is also needed to discover details and mistakes. In turn, experience also needs to be summarized, or it is hard to pass on to others. By joining thought and action, people can make dependable judgments. This repeated adjustment is important in study, work, and solving problems in daily life.
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敌 from 敌(人) · enemy
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Practice
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Finish
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