舍本求末 Neglect the essentials for the sake of non-essentials
Explanation
舍弃根本的、主要的，而去追求枝节的、次要的。比喻不抓根本环节，而只在枝节问题上下功夫。
To abandon the fundamental and pursue the secondary. It is a metaphor for not grasping the fundamental link, but only working on the secondary issues.
Origin Story
从前，有个农夫辛勤劳作，种了一片庄稼。他每天都非常努力地除草、施肥，期待着丰收。但是，他却忽略了最基本的耕地工作。他认为只要努力除草施肥，就能获得好收成。结果，由于地基不牢，庄稼生长得很不好，收成很低。他很失望，不明白为什么自己的努力没有换来丰收。其实，他舍本求末，忽略了耕地这个根本环节，最终导致了失败。
Once upon a time, there was a farmer who worked diligently and planted a field of crops. He worked hard, weeding and fertilizing, expecting a bountiful harvest. However, he neglected the most fundamental aspect of farming: preparing the land properly. He believed that by diligently weeding and fertilizing, he could achieve a good harvest. As a result, due to a poor foundation, the crops did not grow well, and the harvest was poor. Disappointed, he didn’t understand why his efforts did not bring about a good harvest. In fact, he had neglected the most important part of farming, leading to failure.
Usage
比喻不抓根本环节，而只在枝节问题上下功夫。
It is a metaphor for not grasping the fundamental link, but only working on the secondary issues.
Examples
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不要舍本求末，应该把主要精力放在基础知识的学习上。
bù yào shě běn qiú mò, yīnggāi bǎ zhǔyào jīnglì fàng zài jīchǔ zhīshì de xuéxí shàng.
Don't neglect the fundamentals and focus on the important things instead of minor details.
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他整天忙于一些无关紧要的小事，却忽略了工作的核心任务，真是舍本求末。
tā zhěngtiān máng yú yīxiē wúguān jǐnyào de xiǎoshì, què hūlüè le gōngzuò de héxīn rènwù, zhēnshi shě běn qiú mò.
He is busy with some unimportant trifles, but ignores the core tasks of the work, which is really neglecting the essentials for the sake of the non-essentials.