bai3 mun4 zou6 ce1閉門造車闭门造车

Jyutpingbai3 mun4 zou6 ce1

Yalebai mùhn jouh chē

Definition

To engage in wishful thinking or make plans behind closed doors that ignore reality.

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How it's used

This idiom carries a critical tone, suggesting that someone is working in a vacuum without considering external feedback or practical constraints. It is frequently used in professional or academic settings to warn against projects that are theoretically sound but practically useless. While it implies a lack of connection to the real world, it specifically highlights the failure to consult others or observe current trends.

Examples

nei5你gam3咁joeng6樣bai3閉mun4門zou6造ce1車，dim2點wui2會jau5有jan4人hang2肯maai5買nei5你di1啲caan2產ban2品aa1呀？

If you keep working in isolation like this, how could anyone be willing to buy your products?

zou6做saang1生ji3意cin1千kei4祈m4唔hou2好bai3閉mun4門zou6造geoi1車，jiu3要do1多di1啲lau4留ji3意si5市coeng4場bin3變faa3化。

When doing business, never ignore reality; you must pay more attention to market changes.

Common phrases

seon4純suk6屬bai3閉mun4門zou6造geoi1車

purely wishful thinking without practical basis

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for simply meaning to be shy or introverted. It is specifically about the failure to incorporate external input or reality into one's work, not about a person's social personality.