běn​mò​chuǎn​nì

to put the cart before the horse

Senses

本末舛逆 běn​mò​chuǎn​nì to put the cart before the horse

The order of things or events is reversed; used as a metaphor for failing to distinguish between the fundamental and the incidental, or between what is urgent and what can wait

References

synonym 本末颠倒/本末顛倒 本末舛逆/本末舛逆