本末転倒

ほんまつてんとう

Also written as:

Meanings

Adjective / Noun / Verb with suru

common noun, no-adjective
1. failing to properly evaluate the (relative) importance (of); putting the cart before the horse; mistaking the cause for the end; mistaking the insignificant for the essential; getting one's priorities backwards.

本	book, present, main, origin, true, real, counter for long cylindrical things
末	end, close, tip, powder, posterity
転	revolve, turn around, change
倒	overthrow, fall, collapse, drop, break down
顛	overturn, summit, origin

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