# 倒行逆施

dào xíng nì shī

Act perversely against sound principles or progress

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Go backward and act contrary to the proper direction

**Register:** Critical · formal

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Strongly criticize harmful policies or conduct.

Far stronger than describing a harmless unconventional approach.

## Understanding the expression

Moving backward and acting against the proper direction combine into a severe judgment about conduct. The expression often criticizes policies that undermine fairness, reason, or accepted progress. Its force comes from treating the action as fundamentally wrong rather than merely inefficient. Because speakers can disagree about what counts as progress, explain the concrete harm in context. An unusual creative method alone does not justify this morally charged label.

## Examples

明知河流污染严重还放宽排污标准，实在倒行逆施。

### Traditional Chinese

明知河流汙染嚴重還放寬排汙標準，實在倒行逆施。

míng zhī hé liú wū rǎn yán zhòng hái fàng kuān pái wū biāo zhǔn ， shí zài dào xíng nì shī 。

Loosening discharge standards despite severe river pollution is deeply misguided.

那项政策取消基本保障，被批评为倒行逆施。

### Traditional Chinese

那項政策取消基本保障，被批評為倒行逆施。

nà xiàng zhèng cè qǔ xiāo jī běn bǎo zhàng ， bèi pī píng wèi dào xíng nì shī 。

That policy removed basic protections and was criticized as regressive.

不能以改革为名倒行逆施，损害员工权益。

### Traditional Chinese

不能以改革為名倒行逆施，損害員工權益。

bù néng yǐ gǎi gé wèi míng dào xíng nì shī ， sǔn hài yuán gōng quán yì 。

Reform must not become a pretext for regressive actions harming workers' rights.

小说中的统治者倒行逆施，最终失去民心。

### Traditional Chinese

小說中的統治者倒行逆施，最終失去民心。

xiǎo shuō zhōng de tǒng zhì zhě dào xíng nì shī ， zuì zhōng shī qù mín xīn 。

The ruler in the novel acts perversely and eventually loses public support.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%80%92%E8%A1%8C%E9%80%86%E6%96%BD)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=368&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [得不偿失 dé bù cháng shī The gain does not make up for the loss ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/de-bu-chang-shi)

- [得陇望蜀 dé lǒng wàng shǔ Keep wanting more after gaining something ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/de-long-wang-shu)

- [对症下药 duì zhèng xià yào Choose a remedy that fits the problem ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/dui-zheng-xia-yao)

- [多多益善 duō duō yì shàn The more, the better ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/duo-duo-yi-shan)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 道貌岸然 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/dao-mao-an-ran) [Next idiom 得不偿失 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/de-bu-chang-shi)