南轅北轍

nányuánběizhé

try to go south by driving the chariot north—act in a way that defeats one's purpose

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nan2 yuan2 bei3 zhe2

to act in a way that defeats one's purpose (idiom)

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南轅北轍|南辕北辙 [nán yuán běi zhé] ► to act in a way that defeats one's purpose (idiom)