This describes someone who is stubborn and refuses to change course until they face a hard, undeniable failure. It implies that some people only learn through painful experience rather than advice or warning.
The 'south wall' refers to the traditional Chinese courtyard house layout, where the south wall is the main barrier at the entrance. Hitting it is a metaphor for running into an immovable obstacle.
This saying is used both critically and sympathetically. It signals that Chinese people value pragmatism and learning from experience, but also acknowledges that stubbornness is a common human flaw that sometimes must be cured by reality itself.
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