How do you pronounce 本末倒置?

本末倒置 is pronounced as "běn mò dào zhì" in Mandarin Chinese.

本末倒置

Q: What does 本末倒置 mean?

本末倒置 (běn mò dào zhì) literally means "Root branch reversed position" and metaphorically means "Prioritize minor over fundamental matters". It belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category of Chinese idioms.

Q: When is 本末倒置 used?

本末倒置 is used when The project focused on minor details while neglecting the core objectives.

本末倒置 (běn mò dào zhì) literally means “root branch reversed position” and expresses “prioritize minor over fundamental matters”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.

Also searched as: ben mo dao zhi, ben mo dao zhi,本末倒置 meaning, 本末倒置 in english

Prioritize minor over fundamental matters

Pronunciation: běn mò dào zhì Literal meaning: Root branch reversed position

Origin & Usage

Root (本) and tip (末) put in reversed (倒) position (置). The botanical pair is one of the most productive in Chinese: 本 is the base of the trunk and 末 the outer twigs, and the whole vocabulary of priorities is built on it. What the phrase names is not disorder but inversion — the secondary thing is receiving what the primary thing needed. It is standard in Chinese criticism of policy, budgets and management, and it is a sharper accusation than simple misallocation.

Examples

English: "The project focused on minor details while neglecting the core objectives"

Chinese: 项目专注于次要细节，而忽视了核心目标

Related Chinese Idioms

Similar idioms about wisdom & learning

过犹不及

guò yóu bù jí

Moderation in all things

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追本溯源

zhuī běn sù yuán

Trace back to source

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穷途末路

qióng tú mò lù

No options left

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倒行逆施

dào xíng nì shī

Defy norms

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兼收并蓄

jiān shōu bìng xù

Embrace diverse ideas inclusively

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囫囵吞枣

hú lún tūn zǎo

Accept without proper understanding

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隔靴搔痒

gé xuē sāo yǎng

Ineffective indirect solution

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买椟还珠

mǎi dú huán zhū

Valuing packaging over content

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does 本末倒置 mean in English?

本末倒置 (běn mò dào zhì) literally translates to “Root branch reversed position” and is used to express “Prioritize minor over fundamental matters”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.