舍本逐末

Traditional: 捨本逐末

shě běn zhú mò

Dictionary entry

to neglect the root and pursue the tip (idiom)

What does 舍本逐末 mean?

舍本逐末 (shě běn zhú mò) has the following dictionary meaning.

1to neglect the root and pursue the tip (idiom)

2to neglect fundamentals and concentrate on details

Character breakdown

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舍shěto give up; to abandon · to give alms 本běn(bound form) root; stem · (bound form) origin; source 逐zhú(bound form) to pursue; to chase; to drive away · one by one; individually 末mevariant of 麼|么[me5]

Reviewed examples

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How to pronounce 舍本逐末

舍本逐末

shě běn zhú mò

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Base dictionary data: CC-CEDICT · CC BY-SA 4.0.