When combined, `闭门造车` creates a simple but powerful image: “to close the door and build a cart.” The meaning comes from the obvious foolishness of trying to build a vehicle for the outside world without ever looking outside.
The concept of `闭门造车` is deeply rooted in Chinese pragmatism. The original idea comes from the Song Dynasty philosopher Zhu Xi (朱熹), who wrote, “Although you build the cart behind closed doors, when you bring it out, its tracks must fit the ruts on the road” (古语所谓闭门造车，出门合辙). His point was that even when working in private, one must adhere to universal standards for the creation to be useful. Over time, the phrase evolved to criticize those who *fail* to do this. This idiom highlights a cultural value placed on experience, practicality, and alignment with established norms and reality. It's a strong counter-argument to “ivory tower” thinking or pure theoretical work that has no real-world application. Western Comparison: “Working in a Silo” vs. `闭门造车` A close Western business concept is “working in a silo,” where different departments in a company don't communicate. However, `闭门造车` is more critical and personal.
`闭门造车` is almost always used with a negative connotation. It is a form of criticism, suggesting that someone's approach is naive and doomed to fail.