4 characters Idiom and proverb 28 932

Understanding Chinese starts with simple characters, grows to phrases, and finally idioms. Learn 「離本徼末」 today for free with this guide.

The Chinese idiom we are introducing this time is 「離本徼末」. You can find its meaning and application outlined below.

It’s like losing sight of the main point and pursuing the trivial. It is a metaphor for not grasping the fundamental links, but only focusing on minor issues.

The Mandarin pronunciation of this idiom is :

lí běn jiǎo mò

while its Cantonese pinyin is :

lei4 bun2 giu3 mut6

Chinese idioms are vast in number, each carrying unique meanings and usages. With such variety, there’s a lot to learn and appreciate. Hopefully, these resources will aid you on your journey to mastering Chinese.