zhǐ纸papershàng上ontán谈discussbīng兵military
armchair strategy; theoretical discussion divorced from practice
Literal meaning
paper (纸) — on (上) — discuss (谈) — military (兵)
Origin
Refers to Zhao Kuo in the Records of the Grand Historian, who knew military strategy but lost a battle due to lack of practical experience.
Examples
Tā他de的jì计huà划hěn很hǎo好，dàn但zhǐ只shì是zhǐ纸shàng上tán谈bīng兵，méi没yǒu有shí实jì际cāo操zuò作xìng性。
His plan is good, but it's just armchair strategy, with no practical operability.
Wǒ我men们bù不néng能zhǐ纸shàng上tán谈bīng兵，yào要zhù注zhòng重shí实jiàn践。
We can't just engage in armchair strategy; we must focus on practice.
Usage & nuances
Used to criticize someone who is good at theory but lacks practical skills.
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