本末倒置

běn mò dào zhì

Meaning

lit. to invert root and branch (idiom); fig. confusing cause and effect; to stress the incidental over the fundamental; to put the cart before the horse

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Characters

本běnroot, origin, source; basis木一末mòend, final, last; insignificant木一倒dàoto collapse, to fall over; to lie down亻到置zhìto lay out, to place, to set aside罒直

Examples

不要把本末倒置。

bù yào bǎ běn mò dào zhì。

Don't put the cart before the horse.