舍本逐末
shě běn zhú mò
to neglect the essential and pursue the trivial
Character by character
舍shě
abandon
abandon
本běn
root
root
逐zhú
chase
chase
末mò
branch-tip
branch-tip
Example
包装上花的钱比产品本身还多，这不是舍本逐末吗？
Spending more on the packaging than on the product itself: isn’t that putting the trivial before the essential?
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
本 is the root and 末 the tip of a branch. In ancient economic thought farming was the 本 and trade the 末, and rulers were urged to 重本抑末 (favour the root, restrain the branches). Today a reproach for losing sight of what really matters.
Learn this in Lesson 257 · HSK 9+: 问题与主义 (Problems and isms)
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