Fighting battles on paper

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

HSK 7–9 · Level 8 About 14 minutes

纸上谈兵

Zhǐshàngtánbīng

Story

，，。
Zhànguó shíqī, Zhàoguó yǒu yí wèi míngjiàng jiào Zhào Shē, tā de érzi Zhào Kuò cóngxiǎo jiù ài dú bīngshū.
In the Warring States period the State of Zhao had a famous general called Zhao She, whose son Zhao Kuo had loved reading books on warfare since childhood.
Words in this sentence
战国 Zhànguó
the Warring States (period) Dictionary
时期 shíqī
period Dictionary
赵国 Zhàoguó
the State of Zhao Dictionary
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
位 wèi
(polite measure word for people) Dictionary
名将 míngjiàng
famous general Dictionary
叫 jiào
to be called; to call Dictionary
赵奢 Zhào Shē
Zhao She (name)
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
儿子 érzi
son Dictionary
赵括 Zhào Kuò
Zhao Kuo (name) Dictionary
从小 cóngxiǎo
since childhood Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
爱 ài
to love Dictionary
读 dú
to study (for a degree); to read Dictionary
兵书 bīngshū
book on warfare Dictionary
，，，。
Zhào Kuò dú de hěn shú, shuōqǐ dǎzhàng lái tóutóushìdào, lián fùqīn gēn tā tǎolùn, yǒushíhou yě shuō bú guò tā.
Zhao Kuo knew them thoroughly and talked about war with great fluency; even his father, discussing it with him, sometimes couldn't out-argue him.
Words in this sentence
赵括 Zhào Kuò
Zhao Kuo (name) Dictionary
读 dú
to study (for a degree); to read Dictionary
得 de
(links a verb to how it is done) Dictionary
很 hěn
very Dictionary
熟 shú
cooked Dictionary
说起 shuōqǐ
when talking about Dictionary
打仗 dǎzhàng
to go to war Dictionary
来 lái
to come Dictionary
头头是道 tóutóushìdào
fluent and convincing Dictionary
连 lián
even (连……都……) Dictionary
父亲 fùqīn
father Dictionary
跟 gēn
with; as Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
讨论 tǎolùn
to discuss Dictionary
有时候 yǒushíhou
sometimes Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
过 guò
to celebrate, to spend (a holiday) Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
，。
biérén dōu kuā Zhào Kuò shì gè tiāncái, Zhào Shē què yìdiǎnr yě bù gāoxìng.
Everyone praised Zhao Kuo as a genius, but Zhao She was not pleased at all.
Words in this sentence
别人 biérén
other people Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
夸 kuā
to praise Dictionary
赵括 Zhào Kuò
Zhao Kuo (name) Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
天才 tiāncái
genius Dictionary
赵奢 Zhào Shē
Zhao She (name)
却 què
but, yet Dictionary
一点儿 yìdiǎnr
a little Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
高兴 gāoxìng
happy, glad Dictionary
：“，。，。”
tā duì qīzi shuō:“ dǎzhàng shì guānxì dào shēngsǐ de dàshì, zhè háizi què shuō de nàme qīngsōng. jiānglái Zhàoguó yàoshi ràng tā dàibīng, jūnduì yídìng huì huǐ zài tā shǒu lǐ.”
He said to his wife: "War is a matter of life and death, yet the boy talks about it so lightly. If Zhao ever puts him in command, the army is sure to be destroyed in his hands."
Words in this sentence
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
对 duì
correct, right Dictionary
妻子 qīzi
wife Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
打仗 dǎzhàng
to go to war Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
关系 guānxì
to concern (关系到: to be a matter of) Dictionary
到 dào
to arrive Dictionary
生死 shēngsǐ
life and death Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
大事 dàshì
serious matter Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
孩子 háizi
child Dictionary
却 què
but, yet Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
得 de
(links a verb to how it is done) Dictionary
那么 nàme
so, that Dictionary
轻松 qīngsōng
light, easy Dictionary
将来 jiānglái
in the future Dictionary
赵国 Zhàoguó
the State of Zhao Dictionary
要是 yàoshi
if Dictionary
让 ràng
to let, to make (someone do) Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
带兵 dàibīng
to command troops Dictionary
军队 jūnduì
army Dictionary
一定 yídìng
definitely Dictionary
会 huì
can (a learned skill) Dictionary
毁 huǐ
to destroy Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
手 shǒu
hand Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
，。，。
jǐ nián hòu, Zhào Shē qùshì le. Qínguó de dàjūn dǎ le guòlai, Zhàoguó pài lǎojiàng Lián Pō zài Chángpíng fángshǒu.
A few years later Zhao She died. A great Qin army invaded, and Zhao sent the veteran general Lian Po to defend Changping.
Words in this sentence
几 jǐ
how many Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
后 hòu
after, later Dictionary
赵奢 Zhào Shē
Zhao She (name)
去世 qùshì
to pass away Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
秦国 Qínguó
the State of Qin Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
大军 dàjūn
great army Dictionary
打 dǎ
to make (a phone call); to hit Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
过来 guòlai
to come over Dictionary
赵国 Zhàoguó
the State of Zhao Dictionary
派 pài
to send (someone) Dictionary
老将 lǎojiàng
veteran general Dictionary
廉颇 Lián Pō
Lian Po (name) Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
长平 Chángpíng
Changping (place) Dictionary
防守 fángshǒu
to defend Dictionary
，，，。
Lián Pō zhīdao Qín jūn qiángdà, jiù xiū qǐ yínglěi, jiānshǒu bù chū, liǎng jūn yí duìzhì jiù shì sān nián.
Knowing the Qin army was strong, Lian Po built fortifications and held firm without coming out; the two armies faced each other for three years.
Words in this sentence
廉颇 Lián Pō
Lian Po (name) Dictionary
知道 zhīdao
to know Dictionary
秦 Qín
Qin Dictionary
军 jūn
army Dictionary
强大 qiángdà
strong, powerful Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
修 xiū
to repair Dictionary
起 qǐ
up (after a verb: 拿起 pick up) Dictionary
营垒 yínglěi
fortifications Dictionary
坚守 jiānshǒu
to hold firm Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
出 chū
out Dictionary
两 liǎng
two Dictionary
军 jūn
army Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
对峙 duìzhì
to face each other (in a standoff) Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
三 sān
three Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
，：“，！”
Qínguó zháojí le, jiù pài rén zài Zhàoguó sànbù yáoyán:“ Qín jūn gēnběn bú pà Lián Pō, zuì pà de shì Zhào Shē de érzi Zhào Kuò!”
Qin grew impatient and sent people to spread a rumour in Zhao: "The Qin army isn't afraid of Lian Po at all; what it fears most is Zhao She's son, Zhao Kuo!"
Words in this sentence
秦国 Qínguó
the State of Qin Dictionary
着急 zháojí
worried, anxious Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
派 pài
to send (someone) Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
赵国 Zhàoguó
the State of Zhao Dictionary
散布 sànbù
to spread Dictionary
谣言 yáoyán
rumour Dictionary
秦 Qín
Qin Dictionary
军 jūn
army Dictionary
根本 gēnběn
at all Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
怕 pà
to be afraid of Dictionary
廉颇 Lián Pō
Lian Po (name) Dictionary
最 zuì
most Dictionary
怕 pà
to be afraid of Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
赵奢 Zhào Shē
Zhao She (name)
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
儿子 érzi
son Dictionary
赵括 Zhào Kuò
Zhao Kuo (name) Dictionary
，。
Zhào Wáng tīngxìn le yáoyán, juédìng ràng Zhào Kuò dàitì Lián Pō.
The King of Zhao believed the rumour and decided to have Zhao Kuo replace Lian Po.
Words in this sentence
赵 Zhào
Zhao Dictionary
王 Wáng
Wang (surname) Dictionary
听信 tīngxìn
to believe (a rumour) Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
谣言 yáoyán
rumour Dictionary
决定 juédìng
to decide Dictionary
让 ràng
to let, to make (someone do) Dictionary
赵括 Zhào Kuò
Zhao Kuo (name) Dictionary
代替 dàitì
to replace Dictionary
廉颇 Lián Pō
Lian Po (name) Dictionary
，，：“，。”
Zhào Kuò de mǔqīn tīngshuō hòu, jímáng gěi Zhào Wáng xiě xìn, qǐngqiú tā shōuhuí mìnglìng:“ tā fùqīn shēngqián shuō guò, zhè háizi bù néng dàibīng.”
When Zhao Kuo's mother heard, she hurriedly wrote to the king asking him to withdraw the order: "His father said while he was alive that this boy must not command troops."
Words in this sentence
赵括 Zhào Kuò
Zhao Kuo (name) Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
母亲 mǔqīn
mother Dictionary
听说 tīngshuō
to hear (that) Dictionary
后 hòu
after, later Dictionary
急忙 jímáng
hurriedly Dictionary
给 gěi
to give; for Dictionary
赵 Zhào
Zhao Dictionary
王 Wáng
Wang (surname) Dictionary
写 xiě
to write Dictionary
信 xìn
letter Dictionary
请求 qǐngqiú
to ask, to request Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
收回 shōuhuí
to withdraw Dictionary
命令 mìnglìng
order Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
父亲 fùqīn
father Dictionary
生前 shēngqián
while alive Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
过 guò
to celebrate, to spend (a holiday) Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
孩子 háizi
child Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
能 néng
can, be able to Dictionary
带兵 dàibīng
to command troops Dictionary
。：“，，。”。
Zhào Wáng bù tīng. tā zhǐhǎo yòu shuō:“ dàwáng yídìng yào yòng tā dehuà, wànyī tā dǎ le bàizhàng, qǐng búyào liánlei wǒmen quánjiā.” Zhào Wáng dāying le.
The king would not listen. So she said: "If Your Majesty is determined to use him, then should he lose, please do not punish our whole family." The king agreed.
Words in this sentence
赵 Zhào
Zhao Dictionary
王 Wáng
Wang (surname) Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
听 tīng
to listen, to hear Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
只好 zhǐhǎo
have no choice but to Dictionary
又 yòu
and also, on top of that Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
大王 dàwáng
Your Majesty Dictionary
一定 yídìng
definitely Dictionary
要 yào
to need to, to be going to; to want Dictionary
用 yòng
to use Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
的话 dehuà
if Dictionary
万一 wànyī
if by any chance Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
打 dǎ
to make (a phone call); to hit Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
败仗 bàizhàng
lost battle Dictionary
请 qǐng
to treat, to invite; please Dictionary
不要 búyào
don't; don't want Dictionary
连累 liánlei
to implicate Dictionary
我们 wǒmen
we, us Dictionary
全家 quánjiā
whole family Dictionary
赵 Zhào
Zhao Dictionary
王 Wáng
Wang (surname) Dictionary
答应 dāying
to agree Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
，，。
Zhào Kuò yí dào Chángpíng, jiù bǎ Lián Pō de bùshǔ quánbù gǎi le, hái xiàlìng zhǔdòng jìngōng.
As soon as Zhao Kuo reached Changping he changed all Lian Po's dispositions and ordered an attack.
Words in this sentence
赵括 Zhào Kuò
Zhao Kuo (name) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
到 dào
to arrive Dictionary
长平 Chángpíng
Changping (place) Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
把 bǎ
(moves the object before the verb) Dictionary
廉颇 Lián Pō
Lian Po (name) Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
部署 bùshǔ
disposition (of troops) Dictionary
全部 quánbù
all Dictionary
改 gǎi
to change, to correct Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
还 hái
also, in addition Dictionary
下令 xiàlìng
to order Dictionary
主动 zhǔdòng
on one's own initiative Dictionary
进攻 jìngōng
to attack Dictionary
，，，。
Qín jiàng Bái Qǐ gùyì jiǎzhuāng shībài, yílù hòutuì, Zhào Kuò yǐwéi zìjǐ yíng le, dài zhe dàjūn zhuī le shàngqu.
The Qin general Bai Qi deliberately feigned defeat and fell back all the way; Zhao Kuo thought he had won and pursued with his whole army.
Words in this sentence
秦 Qín
Qin Dictionary
将 jiàng
general Dictionary
白起 Bái Qǐ
Bai Qi (name) Dictionary
故意 gùyì
on purpose Dictionary
假装 jiǎzhuāng
to pretend Dictionary
失败 shībài
to fail Dictionary
一路 yílù
all the way Dictionary
后退 hòutuì
to retreat Dictionary
赵括 Zhào Kuò
Zhao Kuo (name) Dictionary
以为 yǐwéi
to think (wrongly), to assume Dictionary
自己 zìjǐ
oneself Dictionary
赢 yíng
to win Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
带 dài
to take (someone), to bring Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
大军 dàjūn
great army Dictionary
追 zhuī
to chase Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
上去 shàngqu
up Dictionary
，，。
méi xiǎngdào, Qín jūn zǎoyǐ zài hòumiàn qiēduàn le Zhào jūn de liángdào, sìshí duō wàn Zhào jūn bèi tuántuán wéi zhù.
He never expected that the Qin had already cut the Zhao supply lines behind him, and more than four hundred thousand Zhao troops were completely surrounded.
Words in this sentence
没 méi
not (in the past) Dictionary
想到 xiǎngdào
to think of, to expect Dictionary
秦 Qín
Qin Dictionary
军 jūn
army Dictionary
早已 zǎoyǐ
long since, already Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
后面 hòumiàn
behind Dictionary
切断 qiēduàn
to cut off Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
赵 Zhào
Zhao Dictionary
军 jūn
army Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
粮道 liángdào
supply line Dictionary
四十 sìshí
forty Dictionary
多 duō
many, a lot Dictionary
万 wàn
ten thousand Dictionary
赵 Zhào
Zhao Dictionary
军 jūn
army Dictionary
被 bèi
(passive: by) Dictionary
团团 tuántuán
completely (surrounded)
围 wéi
to gather round Dictionary
住 zhù
to stay, to live Dictionary
。，，。
tāmen è le sìshíliù tiān. Zhào Kuò dài rén pīnmìng tūwéi, jiéguǒ bèi luànjiàn shè sǐ, Zhào jūn quánbù tóuxiáng.
They starved for forty-six days. Zhao Kuo led a desperate breakout and was shot dead by a hail of arrows, and the whole Zhao army surrendered.
Words in this sentence
他们 tāmen
they, them Dictionary
饿 è
hungry Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
四十六 sìshíliù
forty-six
天 tiān
day Dictionary
赵括 Zhào Kuò
Zhao Kuo (name) Dictionary
带 dài
to take (someone), to bring Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
拼命 pīnmìng
with all one's might Dictionary
突围 tūwéi
to break out of an encirclement Dictionary
结果 jiéguǒ
as a result, in the end Dictionary
被 bèi
(passive: by) Dictionary
乱箭 luànjiàn
a hail of arrows
射 shè
to shoot Dictionary
死 sǐ
to die Dictionary
赵 Zhào
Zhao Dictionary
军 jūn
army Dictionary
全部 quánbù
all Dictionary
投降 tóuxiáng
to surrender Dictionary
，。
zhè yí zhàng yǐhòu, Zhàoguó zài yě méiyǒu lìliàng hé Qínguó duìkàng le.
After this battle Zhao never again had the strength to stand up to Qin.
Words in this sentence
这 zhè
this Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
仗 zhàng
battle Dictionary
以后 yǐhòu
after, later Dictionary
赵国 Zhàoguó
the State of Zhao Dictionary
再 zài
again, any more Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
力量 lìliàng
strength Dictionary
和 hé
and Dictionary
秦国 Qínguó
the State of Qin Dictionary
对抗 duìkàng
to stand up to Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
，“”、。
hòulái, rénmen jiù yòng“ zhǐshàngtánbīng” xíngróng zhǐ huì jiǎng shūběn shàng de dàoli, bú huì jiějué shíjì wèntí de rén.
Later people used "fighting battles on paper" to describe those who can only talk about theories from books and can't solve real problems.
Words in this sentence
后来 hòulái
later, afterwards Dictionary
人们 rénmen
people Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
用 yòng
to use Dictionary
纸上谈兵 zhǐshàngtánbīng
fighting battles on paper, all theory Dictionary
形容 xíngróng
to describe Dictionary
只 zhǐ
only Dictionary
会 huì
can (a learned skill) Dictionary
讲 jiǎng
to tell, to explain Dictionary
书本 shūběn
books Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
道理 dàoli
theory, reasoning Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
会 huì
can (a learned skill) Dictionary
解决 jiějué
to solve Dictionary
实际 shíjì
actual Dictionary
问题 wèntí
problem, question Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
，。，：，。
qíshí, dúshū běnshēn bìng méiyǒu cuò. Zhào Kuò de wèntí bú zàiyú dú de tài duō, ér zàiyú tā cónglái méiyǒu xiǎng guò: shū shàng de dírén bú huì dòng, zhēn de dírén huì.
Reading in itself is not wrong. Zhao Kuo's problem was not that he read too much, but that he never realised that the enemy in a book doesn't move, while a real one does.
Words in this sentence
其实 qíshí
actually Dictionary
读书 dúshū
to study Dictionary
本身 běnshēn
itself Dictionary
并 bìng
(stresses a negative) Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
错 cuò
mistake; wrong Dictionary
赵括 Zhào Kuò
Zhao Kuo (name) Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
问题 wèntí
problem, question Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
在于 zàiyú
to lie in Dictionary
读 dú
to study (for a degree); to read Dictionary
得 de
(links a verb to how it is done) Dictionary
太 tài
too, excessively Dictionary
多 duō
many, a lot Dictionary
而 ér
and; but (literary) Dictionary
在于 zàiyú
to lie in Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
从来 cónglái
ever (从来不: never) Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
想 xiǎng
to want to, would like to; to think Dictionary
过 guò
to celebrate, to spend (a holiday) Dictionary
书 shū
book Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
敌人 dírén
enemy Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
会 huì
can (a learned skill) Dictionary
动 dòng
to move Dictionary
真 zhēn
real, true Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
敌人 dírén
enemy Dictionary
会 huì
can (a learned skill) Dictionary

Grammar focus

连……也…… "even …"
万一 "if by any chance, in case"

Vocabulary

兵书bīngshūbook on warfare Dictionary
防守fángshǒuto defend Dictionary
谣言yáoyánrumour Dictionary
连累liánleito implicate Dictionary
部署bùshǔdisposition (of troops) Dictionary
切断qiēduànto cut off Dictionary
投降tóuxiángto surrender Dictionary
实际shíjìactual Dictionary

Questions

Writing task

写一个你“纸上谈兵”的经历，比如学开车、学游泳或者学做饭。

Xiě yí gè nǐ "zhǐshàngtánbīng" de jīnglì, bǐrú xué kāichē, xué yóuyǒng huòzhě xué zuòfàn.

Write about a time you were "all theory", for example learning to drive, swim or cook.

Tips

连……也…… stresses how basic the problem was.

Try it yourself first, then show the model answer

学游泳以前，我在网上看了很多视频，以为自己全懂了。结果一下水，连气也不会换，喝了好几口水。

Xué yóuyǒng yǐqián, wǒ zài wǎngshang kàn le hěn duō shìpín, yǐwéi zìjǐ quán dǒng le. Jiéguǒ yí xià shuǐ, lián qì yě bú huì huàn, hē le hǎojǐ kǒu shuǐ.

Before learning to swim I watched loads of videos online and thought I understood everything. The moment I got into the water I couldn't even breathe properly and swallowed several mouthfuls.

About the HSK 7–9 band