舍本逐末

捨本逐末

shěběnzhúmò

idiom

Meanings

1 to abandon the root and chase the branches
2 to focus on trivia instead of essentials
3 to get priorities backwards

Characters

root, fundamentals

branch tip, trivia

Examples

只追求分数而忽视能力，是舍本逐末。

Zhǐ zhuīqiú fēnshù ér hūshì nénglì, shì shě běn zhú mò.

Chasing grades while ignoring ability is getting priorities backwards.

写作要抓住主题，不要舍本逐末。

Xiězuò yào zhuāzhù zhǔtí, bú yào shě běn zhú mò.

Stick to the main theme when writing; don't get lost in trivia.

Tips

history

From 《汉书·食货志》: 弃本逐末 — originally criticizing farmers abandoning farming (本, the root) to pursue commerce (末, the branches). Now used for any misplaced priorities.

Stroke Order

舍 shě

本 běn

逐 zhú

末 mò