正本清源 correct the fundamental errors and clarify the source
Explanation
正本清源是一个成语，意思是纠正根本上的错误，清理事情的源头。比喻从根本上加以整顿清理。
Zhengben Qingyuan is an idiom that means to correct fundamental errors and clarify the source of things. It is a metaphor for fundamental rectification and cleaning.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，有个叫李白的诗仙，他游历四方，结识了不少文人墨客。一天，李白来到一个山清水秀的小村庄，村庄里民风淳朴，乡亲们勤劳善良。但村庄里却有个挥之不去的顽疾：村里长年累月水患不断，百姓苦不堪言。李白听闻此事后，便决定前往一探究竟。他来到村庄中，细细询问村民水患发生的原因。村民们告诉他，村庄附近有一条河，由于年久失修，河道淤塞严重，每逢大雨便会引发洪涝灾害。听完村民们的讲述，李白心中有了主意。他认为，要想彻底解决水患问题，必须从根本上解决河道淤塞的问题。于是，他向当地官员建议，疏浚河道，整治河堤，彻底解决水患。官员们采纳了李白的建议，开始对河道进行疏浚和整治。经过一番努力，河道淤塞的问题终于得到解决，水患也随之消失。村民们从此过上了安居乐业的生活。李白正本清源，从根本上解决了村庄水患，成为了当地百姓心中的一位好官。
In the Tang Dynasty, there was a poet named Li Bai, who traveled far and wide and met many literary figures. One day, he came to a picturesque village where the villagers were hardworking and kind. But the village had a persistent problem: there were frequent floods, and the people suffered greatly. Upon hearing about this, Li Bai decided to investigate. He went to the village and carefully inquired about the causes of the floods. The villagers told him that there was a river near the village that was severely silted up due to neglect, and heavy rains would cause floods. After listening to the villagers, Li Bai had an idea. He believed that to solve the flood problem completely, it was necessary to solve the problem of river siltation from the root. So, he suggested to the local officials to dredge the river and repair the embankments to completely solve the flood problem. The officials adopted Li Bai's suggestion and began to dredge and repair the river. After some effort, the problem of river siltation was finally solved, and the floods disappeared. The villagers lived a peaceful and prosperous life from then on. Li Bai, by getting to the root of the problem, solved the village's floods and became a good official in the hearts of the local people.
Usage
正本清源通常用于形容治理、整顿、改革等需要从根本上解决问题的情况。
Zhengben Qingyuan is usually used to describe situations such as governance, rectification, and reform that require solving problems from the root.
Examples
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为了治理好国家，必须正本清源，从根本上解决问题。
Wèile zhìlǐ hǎo guójiā, bìxū zhèngběn qīngyuán, cóng gēnběn shàng jiějué wèntí.
To govern the country well, we must get to the root of the problem and solve it fundamentally.
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这次改革要正本清源，彻底解决长期存在的问题。
zhè cì gǎigé yào zhèngběn qīngyuán, chèdǐ jiějué chángqí cúnzài de wèntí。
This reform should get to the root of the problem and thoroughly solve the long-standing problems.