📖 Meaning
Built to a common standard, a cart made behind closed doors will naturally fit the ruts once taken outside. Metaphorically, it describes learning or talent that fits the real needs of society and proves useful in practice.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase comes from the Zen Buddhist chronicle 'Jingde Chuandeng Lu' (景德传灯录), compiled in the Song dynasty, in the entry on Master Kuangwu (匡悟禅师). A monk asked, 'What is building a cart behind closed doors?' The master answered, 'Not a single thing to work with.' The monk then asked, 'What is going out the door and fitting the ruts?' The master replied, 'Sitting on the ground, one enters Chang'an.' The dialogue uses cart-building as a metaphor for cultivation that, when rightly done, naturally accords with the world.
💡 Example Usage
这位学者学识渊博，出门合辙，正是时代所需的人才。
This scholar is deeply learned and his knowledge serves real societal needs, making him exactly the talent our times require.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 出门合辙
- Pinyin: chū mén hé zhé
- Literal Translation: go out, door, fit, rut
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4