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背道而驰 (bèi dào ér chí) — (idiom) to run counter to, to be at odds with, to go directly against

Definition

A formal idiom meaning two things move in opposite directions — used when actions, views, or policies clash directly with each other. Pairs naturally with 与... (与公司政策∼).

idiom
to run counter toto be at odds withto go directly against

Examples

  • 背道而驰。
    Tā de zuò fǎ yǔ gōng sī de zhèng cè bèi dào ér chí.
    His approach runs counter to the company's policy.
  • 背道而驰。
    Zhè zhǒng lǐ lùn wán quán yǔ cháng shí bèi dào ér chí.
    This theory completely goes against common sense.
  • 背道而驰，。
    Tā men liǎ de guān diǎn bèi dào ér chí, hěn nán dá chéng yí zhì.
    Their views are completely opposite; it's hard to reach an agreement.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
月Written in full as肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
北
北běi背bèi
Same sound today

背 was first written as 北; 北 gives the sound, and 肉 (meat, written as 月 here) was added to separate it from 北’s north meaning.

Open 背 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
行行xíngstreet
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𩠐
首shǒu道dào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Open 道 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

Open 而 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 驰 →
Appears in
Conflict & AgreementIdioms & Set Phrases

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