本末転倒 – vocab dash

本ほん末まつ転てん倒とう

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Meanings

Noun

Suru verb

Intransitive verb

1. putting the cart before the horse; mistaking the means for the end; getting one's priorities backwards (Yojijukugo)

Kanji used

Pitch accent

ほんまつてんとう

Composed of

book; volume; script; this; present; current; ... in question; ... at issue; main; head; …

Noun

the end (of); powder

Suffix

fall; falling down; tumbling; toppling (over); inversion; reversal; turning upside-down; getting upset; losing one's presence of mind

Noun

Examples8

あなたの言いっていることは本ほん末まつ転てん倒とうだと思おもわないかい？

Don't you think you're putting the cart before the horse?

それって本ほん末まつ転てん倒とうだろ。

You've got your priorities backwards.

それでは本ほん末まつ転てん倒とうだ。

That's reversing the logical order of things.

でも、それで士し気きが下さがっては本ほん末まつ転てん倒とうではないかと。

But, if by that, morale drops wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the exercise?

コミュニケーションの方ほう法ほうが多た種しゅにわたって増ぞう加かする一いっ方ぽうで人にん間げん関かん係けいが希き薄はくなものになりつつある。まさに本ほん末まつ転てん倒とうだ。

As all kinds of communication methods are proliferating, human relationships are weakening. This is a perfect example of mistaking means for ends.

私わたしの父ちちを説せっ得とくしようなんて、本ほん末まつ転てん倒とうの話はなしですよ。

Persuading my father first is putting the cart before the horse.