纸上谈兵 (zhǐ shàng-tán bīng) — (idiom) to engage in empty theorizing or armchair strategy, without practical experience or realistic solutions

Definition

Examples

• 他只是纸上谈兵，根本不懂基层的情况。
  Tā zhǐ shì zhǐ shàng-tán bīng, gēn běn bù dǒng jī céng de qíng kuàng.
  He is just engaging in armchair strategy and doesn't understand the grassroots situation at all.
• 这个计划完全是纸上谈兵，没有考虑预算限制。
  Zhè ge jì huà wán quán shì zhǐ shàng-tán bīng, méi yǒu kǎo lǜ yù suàn xiàn zhì.
  This plan is pure armchair strategy, with no consideration of budget constraints.
• 做管理不能纸上谈兵，必须深入一线了解问题。
  Zuò guǎn lǐ bù néng zhǐ shàng-tán bīng, bì xū shēn rù yī xiàn liǎo jiě wèn tí.
  When doing management, you can't just engage in armchair strategy; you must go to the front line to understand the problems.