# 舍本逐末

shě běn zhú mò

Neglect the essential to pursue the minor

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Abandon the root and chase the tips

**Traditional Chinese:** 捨本逐末

**Register:** Critical · formal

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Use when someone leaves the central task for less important details.

It focuses on the pursuit of secondary things.

## Behind the words

The root-and-branch image connects foundations with what grows from them. Pursuing the tips while abandoning the root undermines the whole.

舍 means abandoning, and 逐 means pursuing. The idiom describes leaving the central matter behind to chase a less important one. Compared with 本末倒置, it emphasizes the direction of effort and what has been neglected. It fits situations where attention or resources move away from the core purpose toward attractive but secondary details.

## Examples

只追求下载量，不改善产品，是舍本逐末。

### Traditional Chinese

只追求下載量，不改善產品，是捨本逐末。

zhī zhuī qiú xià zài liáng ， bù gǎi shàn chǎn pǐn ， shì shě běn zhú mò 。

Chasing downloads without improving the product neglects what matters most.

学语言只收集漂亮笔记，却不练习使用，容易舍本逐末。

### Traditional Chinese

學語言只收集漂亮筆記，卻不練習使用，容易捨本逐末。

xué yǔ yán zhī shōu jí piào liang bǐ jì ， què bú liàn xí shǐ yòng ， róng yì shě běn zhú mò 。

Collecting attractive language notes without practicing use neglects the essential goal.

经营餐厅只做宣传，不改善饭菜，是舍本逐末。

### Traditional Chinese

經營餐廳只做宣傳，不改善飯菜，是捨本逐末。

jīng yíng cān tīng zhī zuò xuān chuán ， bù gǎi shàn fàn cài ， shì shě běn zhú mò 。

Promoting a restaurant without improving its food neglects what matters most.

为了省一点包装费却损坏产品，实在舍本逐末。

### Traditional Chinese

為了省一點包裝費卻損壞產品，實在捨本逐末。

wèi le shěng yì diǎn bāo zhuāng fèi què sǔn huài chǎn pǐn ， shí zài shě běn zhú mò 。

Damaging the product to save a little on packaging sacrifices the essential for the minor.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1323&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%8D%A8%E6%9C%AC%E9%80%90%E6%9C%AB)

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