本末転倒

ほんまつてんとう

honmatsu tento

putting the cart before the horse; getting your priorities backwards

jlpt n3

each kanji

本

ほん hon

book, counter for long cylindrical things, main

onほん hon

kunもと moto

jlpt n5 · 5 strokes

末

まつ matsu

close, end, posterity

onばつ batsuまつ matsu

kunうら uraうれ ureすえ sue

jlpt n3 · 5 strokes

転

てん ten

change, revolve, turn around

onてん ten

kunうたた utataうつ.る utsuruくる.めく kurumekuころ.がす korogasu

jlpt n4 · 11 strokes

倒

とう tō

break down, collapse, drop

onとう tō

kunだお.れ daoreさかさ sakasaさかさま sakasamaさかしま sakashima

jlpt n3 · 10 strokes

本末転倒 shows up in the daily jlpt quiz. a new one every day, free to practice.