治标 (zhì biāo) — (figurative) to treat only the symptoms; to tak…

Definition

Only addresses the surface problem, not the root cause. Paired with 治本 ('cure the root'), it means handling symptoms with a stopgap fix.

verb

(figurative) to treat only the symptomsto take stopgap measures

治标，。
Zhè ge bàn fǎ zhǐ néng zhì biāo, bù néng jiě jué gēn běn wèn tí.
This approach only treats the symptoms; it can't solve the root problem.
，。
Chī le yào zhǐ shì zhì le biāo, bìng gēn hái zài.
Taking the medicine only treated the symptoms; the root cause of the illness remains.
，。
Xǔ duō duǎn qī zhèng cè zhì bù liǎo biāo, gèng bié tí zhì běn le.
Many short-term policies can't even manage the symptoms, let alone address the root causes.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

治 means treat and 标 means surface symptom, so it is treating only outward signs.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

台

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

治 has 水 (water) and 台; 台 gives the sound, and the character named a river.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 標; 标 is its simplified writing.

木票標

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

票

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 標 pairs 木 with 票, and 票 gives the sound; the simplified 标 is the modern form of that traditional character.