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HSK 4 Chinese reading practice

纸上谈兵

zhǐ shàng tán bīng

War on Paper

Zhao Kuo can discuss military texts brilliantly, but warnings about his judgment go unheard before the Battle of Changping.

RECOMMENDEDHSK 4
READ6 min
HANZI521
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文化
CULTURE

Did the Records of the Grand Historian say 纸上谈兵?

The phrase 纸上谈兵 is traditionally associated with Zhao Kuo's defeat in the Records of the Grand Historian, although the four-character idiom itself does not appear in that account. Today it describes discussing plans or theories without the practical experience or adaptability needed to carry them out.

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Answer three questions without looking at the English translation.

01最早认为赵括不适合带兵的人是谁？
02国王为什么让赵括代替廉颇？
03白起怎样使赵国士兵陷入困难？
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Chinese idiom guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about 纸上谈兵

What does 纸上谈兵 mean in English?

纸上谈兵 (zhǐ shàng tán bīng) literally means “discuss warfare on paper.” It describes talking persuasively about theory while lacking the practical ability or flexibility to carry it out.

When is 纸上谈兵 used?

Use 纸上谈兵 (zhǐ shàng tán bīng) to criticize plans that sound convincing in discussion but have not been tested against real conditions. For example: The proposal ignored staffing, cost, and delivery time, so the operations team dismissed it as 纸上谈兵.

What is the pinyin for 纸上谈兵?

The pinyin pronunciation for 纸上谈兵 is “zhǐ shàng tán bīng.”