治标不治本 zhì biāo bù zhì běn

to treat the symptoms but not the root cause

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. to treat the symptoms but not the root cause

Characters

Character Meaning
治 zhì HSK 5
to govern; to manage; to control
标 biāo HSK 4
mark; label; sign
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
治 zhì HSK 5
to govern; to manage; to control
本 běn HSK 1
this; the current; original