捨本逐末 shě běn zhú mò

DEFINITIONS

  1. to neglect the root and pursue the tip (idiom)
  2. to neglect fundamentals and concentrate on details

CHARACTERS

捨 shě discard, give up willingly; give alms
本 běn
HSK 1
root, origin, source; basis
逐 zhú
HSK 5
chase, expel; one by one
末 mò
HSK 3
final, last, end; insignificant