治标不治本
zhì​biāo​bù​zhì​běn

to treat symptoms not the root cause

  1. 治标 治標 zhì​biāo
    to treat symptoms
    To treat the symptoms of a problem rather than its root cause; to take stopgap or emergency measures. Usually used in contrast with 治本 zhì​běn.
  2. 不 bù adverb
    not
    Negative adverb used before verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs to indicate negation; also used as a bound-form prefix to form terms with opposite meanings
  3. 治本 zhì​běn
    to tackle the root cause
    To get at the root of a problem or disease; to take radical measures for a permanent solution; often used in contrast with 治标 zhì​biāo.