📖 Meaning
This idiom refers to abandoning agriculture, considered the fundamental occupation, in favor of commerce. In ancient Chinese economic thought, farming was the 'root' (本) sustaining society, while trade was the 'branch' (末). It criticizes diverting effort away from essential productive work toward secondary pursuits.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom reflects the traditional Chinese economic philosophy that privileged agriculture over commerce. In ancient China, rulers and scholars regarded farming as the foundation (本) of a stable society, while trade and commerce were viewed as secondary (末). The phrase appears in classical discussions of economic policy and social order, where officials warned that encouraging trade at the expense of farming would weaken the state. No single definitive source is recorded for this exact phrasing.
💡 Example Usage
政府若鼓励去本趋末，必将导致粮食短缺。
If the government encourages abandoning agriculture in favor of commerce, food shortages will inevitably result.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 去本趋末
- Pinyin: qù běn qū mò
- Literal Translation: abandon root, pursue branch
- Category: Method
- Characters: 4