Chinese wall Meaning in English
expression
Definition
A 'Chinese wall' is a metaphor for a strong barrier that keeps information or activities separate, especially within companies to prevent conflicts of interest.
Usage & Nuances
'Chinese wall' is mostly used in business and legal contexts; it is not a reference to the real Great Wall of China. Used to describe procedures (like separating banks' trading/advisory teams) to avoid leaks or conflicts. In modern usage, 'information barrier' may be preferred to avoid cultural insensitivity.
Example Sentences
The bank set up a Chinese wall to keep its investment and advisory teams separate.
basic
There is a strict Chinese wall between the two departments.
basic
The company built a Chinese wall to avoid sharing confidential information.
basic
Ever since the conflict of interest scandal, there’s been a strict Chinese wall between sales and research.
natural
Don’t worry, there’s a Chinese wall here—we won’t share your data with the other team.
natural
The firm has a well-known Chinese wall policy to keep sensitive deals confidential.
natural