本末転倒
ほんまつてんとう
noun, na-adjective, suru verb
putting the cart before the horse; getting priorities backwards
1.
putting the cart before the horse; confusing priorities
Mistaking what's important for what's secondary, or confusing means and ends. Getting the fundamental and the incidental reversed.
健康を損なうダイエットは本末転倒だ。
A diet that damages your health is putting the cart before the horse.
目的と手段が本末転倒になっている。
The ends and means have been confused.
本末転倒な議論はやめよう。
Let's stop this backwards argument.
Literally "roots/tips reversed" - the root (本) and the tip (末) of a tree are turned upside down.
ORIGIN:
From Buddhist philosophy, where 本 refers to the essential and 末 to the superficial.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 本末転倒な: backwards, having priorities reversed
- 本末転倒だ: that's putting the cart before the horse
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 主客転倒: host and guest reversed