本末

běnmò
  1. the whole course of an event from beginning to end
  2. ins and outs
  3. the fundamental and the incidental

CEDICT

  1. (figuratively) ins and outs; the whole story
  2. (figuratively) the fundamental and the incidental
  3. (literally) root or trunk of a tree and the branches
  4. ins and outs; the whole story
  5. root or trunk of a tree and the branches
  6. the fundamental and the incidental

Wiktionary

  1. 树的主干和枝节。
  2. 事物的根本与细节。
  3. 事情的原委、经过。
  4. 先后次第。

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 本 běn
  1. (bound form) root; stem
  2. (bound form) origin; source
  3. (bound form) one's own; this
  4. (bound form) this; the current (year etc)
  5. (bound form) original
  6. (bound form) inherent
  7. originally; initially
  8. capital; principal
  9. classifier for books, periodicals, files etc
2 末 mò
  1. tip
  2. end
  3. final stage
  4. latter part
  5. inessential detail
  6. powder
  7. dust
  8. opera role of old man

Containing this entry

本末倒置 běnmòdàozhì
  1. lit. to invert root and branch (idiom); fig. confusing cause and effect
  2. to stress the incidental over the fundamental
  3. to put the cart before the horse
本末颠倒 běnmòdiāndǎo