Japanese Dictionary

Meaning of 本末転倒(ほんまつてんとう) in Japanese

本末転倒, 本末顛倒
Kana Reading
ほんまつてんとう
Romaji
honmatsutentō
Word Senses
  • Parts of speech
    noun (common) (futsuumeishi), noun or participle which takes the aux. verb suru, nouns which may take the genitive case particle `no'
    Meaning
    failing to properly evaluate the (relative) importance (of); putting the cart before the horse; mistaking the cause for the end; mistaking the insignificant for the essential; getting one's priorities backwards
    Example sentence
    も、それ士気下がって本末転倒はないと。 But, if by that, morale drops wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the exercise?

Examples of 本末転倒, 本末顛倒, ほんまつてんとう in a sentence



Kanji in this word

JLPT 3

10 strokes

overthrow, fall, collapse, drop, break down

On'Yomi: トウ

Kun'Yomi: たお.れる, -だお.れ, たお.す, さかさま, さかさ, さかしま

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JLPT 3

5 strokes

end, close, tip, powder, posterity

On'Yomi: マツ, バツ

Kun'Yomi: すえ

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JLPT 4

11 strokes

revolve, turn around, change

On'Yomi: テン

Kun'Yomi: ころ.がる, ころ.げる, ころ.がす, ころ.ぶ, まろ.ぶ, うたた, うつ.る, くる.めく

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JLPT 5

5 strokes

book, present, main, origin, true, real, counter for long cylindrical things

On'Yomi: ホン

Kun'Yomi: もと

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19 strokes

overturn, summit, origin

On'Yomi: テン

Kun'Yomi: いただき, たお.れる

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