崇本抑末
chóng​běn​yì​mò

prioritize essentials over trivialities

  1. 崇 chóng verbnoun
    to esteem
    (bound form) to honor; to worship; to hold in high regard; to prioritize
  2. 本 běn proper nounadverb
    origin
    the source, foundation, or fundamental part of something
  3. 抑 yì nounverb
    to restrain
    (bound form) to restrain; to curb; to press down
  4. 末 mò
    nonessentials
    minor details or things of secondary importance; nonessential matters as opposed to the fundamental root