闭门造车
Bì mén zào chē
Literal Meaning: “To build a cart behind closed doors.”
The phrase describes someone who works on a project or task in isolation, without considering external input or real-world conditions.
Figurative Meaning: It is used to criticise someone who creates something without understanding or adapting to the needs of the outside world. It implies that the result of such isolated efforts is often impractical, unrealistic, or incompatible with real-world requirements.
Usage Example: 做研究不能闭门造车，要多听取别人的意见。
Hanyu Pinying: Zuò yánjiū bùnéng bì mén zào chē, yào duō tīngqǔ biérén de yìjiàn.
English Meaning: When conducting research, you can’t work in isolation; you need to listen to others’ opinions.
Bible Verse: Proverbs 15:22 (NIV): “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
This directly addresses the folly of 闭门造车 – making plans or creating things without seeking input from others leads to failure, while collaboration leads to success.
