bun2 mut6 dou2 zi3本末倒置

Jyutpingbun2 mut6 dou2 zi3

Yalebún muht dóu ji

語句Uncommon

Definition

To put the cart before the horse; to confuse the essential with the incidental.

neutralother

How it's used

Used to criticize situations where someone prioritizes trivial details while ignoring the core objective. It carries a formal, slightly intellectual tone despite being used in everyday arguments to point out flawed logic. It is most effective when highlighting a clear mismatch between effort and goal.

Examples

nei5你zing6淨hai6係sik1識maai5買leng3靚hei3器coi4材，m4唔lin6練gei1基bun2本gung1功，gaan2簡zik6直hai6係bun2本mut6末dou2倒zi3置。

You only know how to buy fancy equipment but don't practice the basics; that's simply putting the cart before the horse.

wai6為zo2咗haan1慳go2嗰siu2少siu2少cin4錢ji4而maai5買lyut3劣zat1質ling4零gin2件，wui2會m4唔wui2會taai3太gwo3過bun2本mut6末dou2倒zi3置aa1呀？

Isn't it putting the cart before the horse to buy low-quality parts just to save that little bit of money?

Common phrases

gaan2簡zik6直hai6係bun2本mut6末dou2倒zi3置

simply putting the cart before the horse

Common mistake

Learners often use it to describe simple mistakes or bad choices, but it specifically requires a reversal of priorities where the secondary task is treated as the primary one.