治標不治本 zhì biāo bù zhì běn

DEFINITIONS

  1. to treat the symptoms but not the root cause

CHARACTERS

治 zhì
HSK 5
govern, regulate, administer
標 biāo a mark, symbol, label, sign; standard
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
治 zhì
HSK 5
govern, regulate, administer
本 běn
HSK 1
root, origin, source; basis