头痛医头，脚痛医脚 tóu tòng yī tóu ， jiǎo tòng yī jiǎo

treat only symptoms; short-term fix

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. to treat the symptoms rather than getting to the root of the problem (proverb)
  2. 2. reactive (rather than proactive)

Characters

Character Meaning
头 tóu HSK 3
head; the top; end
痛 tòng HSK 5
pain; ache; sorrow
医 yī HSK 1
doctor; medical; medicine
头 tóu HSK 3
head; the top; end
脚 jiǎo HSK 3
foot; leg (of an animal or an object); base (of an object)
痛 tòng HSK 5
pain; ache; sorrow
医 yī HSK 1
doctor; medical; medicine
脚 jiǎo HSK 3
foot; leg (of an animal or an object); base (of an object)