纸上谈兵zhǐ shàng tán bīngtheoretical discussion that is worse than useless in practice

1. 1.

   theoretical discussion that is worse than useless in practiceidiom

2. 2.

   armchair strategistidiom

3. 3.

   idle theorizingidiom

Figurative meaning

Theoretical discussion that is worse than useless in practice; idle theorizing; armchair strategist.

Literal meaning

Military tactics on paper.

• 纸paper
• 上(noun suffix) on; above
• 谈to talk
• 兵military

No attested origin story

纸上谈兵 can follow 只是 or 就是 to say that a plan or idea is only theory.

1. HSK 4

   只看书不练习，就是纸上谈兵。

   Zhǐ kàn shū bù liànxí, jiùshì zhǐ shàng tán bīng.

   Only reading books without practicing is just idle theorizing.

2. HSK 5

   他的计划只是纸上谈兵，根本做不到。

   Tā de jìhuà zhǐshì zhǐ shàng tán bīng, gēnběn zuò bu dào.

   His plan is just theory on paper; it simply can't be done.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   我看了很多游泳的书。

   Wǒ kàn le hěn duō yóuyǒng de shū.

   I've read a lot of books about swimming.

2. 
   Speaker B:

   你下水游过吗？

   Nǐ xià shuǐ yóu guo ma?

   Have you ever gotten in the water and swum?

3. 
   Speaker A:

   还没有。

   Hái méiyǒu.

   Not yet.

4. 
   Speaker B:

   那就是纸上谈兵，快去练习吧。

   Nà jiùshì zhǐ shàng tán bīng, kuài qù liànxí ba.

   Then that's just theory on paper. Go practice!

1. 1.What does 纸上谈兵 mean?

   AIdle theorizingBWriting a letter to a soldierCWinning a battle
2. 2.Which sentence uses 纸上谈兵 correctly?

   A只看书不练习，就是纸上谈兵。B这张纸上谈兵很好看。C我纸上谈兵地吃早饭。
3. 3.Which word fits best? 他的计划只是____，根本做不到。 (His plan is just theory on paper; it simply can't be done.)

   A爱不释手B纸上谈兵C亡羊补牢

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