Definition
象牙塔 is a loanword from English 'ivory tower' (via Japanese) and refers to an isolated, sheltered place of intellectual or academic activity, disconnected from the practical concerns of everyday life. It is commonly used to describe universities or scholarly pursuits that are perceived as being out of touch with reality. The term often carries a mildly critical tone.
n.
ivory tower (metaphor for academic seclusion or detachment from real-world issues)
Examples
- 象牙塔。Shēnghuó zài xiàng yá tǎ lǐ de xuézhě yǒushí huì hūlüè shèhuì de zhēnshí xūqiú.Scholars living in an ivory tower sometimes overlook the real needs of society.
- 象牙塔，。Tā juédìng zǒu chū xiàng yá tǎ, dào jīcéng qù liǎojiě shíjì qíngkuàng.He decided to step out of the ivory tower and go to the grassroots to understand the actual situation.
- 象牙塔。Zhè piān shèlùn pīpíng le gāoděng jiàoyù zhōng de xiàng yá tǎ qīngxiàng.This editorial criticized the ivory-tower tendencies in higher education.
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