nán​yuán​běi​zhé

at cross-purposes

Senses

南辕北辙/ 南轅北轍 nán​yuán​běi​zhé (also nán​yuán​běi​chè) at cross-purposes

To act in a way that defeats one's own purpose; to have actions that are diametrically opposite to one's goals, like a person heading south by driving their chariot north.

References

antonym 南辕北辙/南轅北轍 殊途同归/殊途同歸
synonym 南辕北辙/南轅北轍 背道而驰/背道而馳
synonym 南辕北辙/南轅北轍 北辕适楚/北轅適楚
synonym 背道而驰/背道而馳 南辕北辙/南轅北轍