běn​mò​dào​zhì

to put the cart before the horse

Senses

本末倒置 běn​mò​dào​zhì to put the cart before the horse

To invert the root and the branch; to focus on the minor details while neglecting the essentials or to confuse the cause and effect.

References

synonym 本末颠倒/本末顛倒 本末倒置/本末倒置
synonym 冠履倒置/冠履倒置 本末倒置/本末倒置
synonym 冠履倒易/冠履倒易 本末倒置/本末倒置