轻重倒置 Putting the cart before the horse
Explanation
把轻重缓急颠倒，把重要的和不重要的地位颠倒。
To reverse the order of importance; to put the less important before the more important.
Origin Story
话说古代有一个秀才，为了参加科举考试，他日夜苦读，希望能金榜题名，光宗耀祖。他家里很穷，平时连温饱都成问题，但他一心想着考取功名后就能荣华富贵，所以把读书当成最重要的事情。为了省钱，他每天只吃一顿简单的饭，衣服破了也不修补，一心只读圣贤书。他妻子劝他，说：“夫君，咱们的日子这么苦，你这样读书，身体都熬坏了，万一考不上，那怎么办？咱们还是先把日子过好些，再去读书吧！”秀才却说：“你懂什么？功名才是最重要的，有了功名，吃香的喝辣的还不是轻而易举？现在这点苦算什么！”就这样，秀才继续刻苦攻读，身体日渐消瘦，最后竟然病倒了，连考试都没能参加。
Once upon a time, there was a scholar who studied day and night to pass the imperial examination and achieve glory and wealth. His family was very poor, and daily survival was a problem. But he was determined to live a rich and comfortable life after passing the examination, and so he considered studying the most important thing. To save money, he only ate a simple meal every day, and didn't mend his torn clothes. He devoted himself solely to reading Confucian classics. His wife advised him, "Husband, we live such a hard life, and you study so much that you're ruining your health. What if you fail the exam? Let's improve our lives first, then study!" But the scholar said, "What do you know? Official rank is most important! Once I have that, we can live in luxury easily. This little hardship is nothing!" The scholar continued his intense studies, becoming increasingly thin, and eventually fell ill, too weak even to take the exam.
Usage
形容事情处理的轻重不分，本末倒置。
To describe a situation where priorities are wrongly set, and the important things are neglected.
Examples
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他做事总是轻重倒置，结果往往事与愿违。
ta zuòshì zǒngshì qīngzhòng dào zhì, jiéguǒ wǎngwǎng shì yǔ yuánwéi
He always puts the cart before the horse, and the results are often counterproductive.
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学习要注重基础，不要轻重倒置，捡了芝麻丢了西瓜。
xuéxí yào zhòngzhù jīchǔ, bù yào qīngzhòng dào zhì, jiǎn le zhīma diū le xīguā
In learning, we should focus on the fundamentals and not put the cart before the horse, losing the watermelon for the sake of sesame seeds.