seek the distant while neglecting the near
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to seek the distant while neglecting the near; to look far and wide for what is close at hand; to take a roundabout way
Usually used as criticism of inefficient, unrealistic, or impractical approaches. The variant form 舍近图远 is also commonly used.
Běn本
dì地
jiù就
yǒu有
hǎo好
xué学
xiào校
，
hé何
bì必
shě舍
jìn近
qiú求
yuǎn远
？
There are good schools right here in the local area, so why bother seeking far away?
Zuò做
shì事
yào要
jiǎng讲
jiū究
xiào效
lǜ率
，
bù不
yào要
shě舍
jìn近
qiú求
yuǎn远
。
One should pursue efficiency in work, not take the long way around.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Tā他
jiā家
mén门
kǒu口
jiù就
yǒu有
chāo超
shì市
，
què却
shě舍
jìn近
qiú求
yuǎn远
pǎo跑
dào到
shì市
zhōng中
xīn心
qù去
mǎi买
dōng东
xi西
。
There is a supermarket right at his doorstep, yet he went all the way to the city center to shop.