不切实际

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: bù qiè shí jì
• English Translation: Unrealistic (not fitting reality)
• Idiom Composition: 「不」（Not; a particle used for negation.）＋「切」（To fit, correspond to, or be close to.）＋「实际」（Reality, practice, or actual circumstances.）
• Meaning: Describes ideas, plans, or goals that do not align with actual circumstances or objective conditions, making them impractical or impossible to achieve.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「不切实际」 contains the following nuances:

• Divergence from Reality: The term emphasizes that because objective conditions or resources are ignored, the likelihood of success is nearly zero.
• Critical Nuance: This idiom usually carries a negative connotation. It is often used to criticize 'ivory tower' thinking or management that is out of touch with the situation on the ground.

3. Usage

「不切实际」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Evaluating Plans or Goals: Used in business or projects to point out that a target is set too high or that a plan lacks the necessary budget or time.
  • Example:「老板提出的销售目标太高了，完全是不切实际的。」
    （The sales target set by the boss is too high; it is completely unrealistic.）
• Advising Someone's Mindset: Used to advise someone to be more grounded when they are dreaming without taking action or aiming for something far beyond their reach.
  • Example:「你别整天做那些不切实际的梦了，还是脚踏实地工作吧。」
    （Stop having those impractical dreams all day and start working with your feet on the ground.）
• Rejecting Ideas: Used to reject a proposal that might be theoretically interesting but is impossible to implement in practice.
  • Example:「这个方案虽然很有创意，但在目前的预算下是不切实际的。」
    （Although this proposal is very creative, it is not feasible under the current budget.）

Additional Examples:

1. 由于缺乏市场调研，他们的创业计划显得很不切实际。
   （Due to a lack of market research, their business plan seems very unrealistic.）
2. 批评别人容易，但提出可行的建议比发表不切实际的评论更有用。
   （It is easy to criticize others, but offering actionable suggestions is more useful than making impractical comments.）
3. 这种要求对初学者来说是不切实际的。
   （Such a requirement is unreasonable for a beginner.）
4. 我们不能总是抱有不切实际的幻想，要面对现实。
   （We cannot keep holding onto unrealistic illusions; we must face reality.）
5. 他的想法太过激进，在目前的社会环境下是不切实际的。
   （His ideas are too radical and are impractical in the current social environment.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Frequency: This is an extremely common expression in modern Chinese, appearing in daily conversation, business meetings, and political discourse.
• Contrast with Virtues: In Chinese culture, the concept of 脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì), or 'keeping one's feet on solid ground,' is a highly regarded virtue. Therefore, 不切实际 (bù qiè shí jì) serves as a strong warning against being flighty or ungrounded.
• Nuance vs. Similar Terms: While the idiom 异想天开 (yì xiǎng tiān kāi) can sometimes be used to describe 'out-of-the-box' creativity, 不切实际 (bù qiè shí jì) is almost exclusively used to label something as useless or unachievable.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 异想天开 (yì xiǎng tiān kāi): To have a bizarre or whimsical imagination; to indulge in wild fantasies.link
  • 好高骛远 (hào gāo wù yuǎn): To reach for what is beyond one's grasp; to aim too high without a solid foundation.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì): To have one's feet on the ground; to do things in a steady, down-to-earth manner.link
  • 实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì): To seek truth from facts; to be practical and realistic.link

6. Summary

不切实际 (bù qiè shí jì) is a critical idiom used to describe concepts that are detached from reality. It is frequently used in professional and personal contexts to point out that a proposal is 'pie in the sky' or lacks a practical foundation. It emphasizes a failure to account for real-world constraints.