Definition
治标 means 'to treat only the symptoms' — it's often used in contrast with 治本 ('to address the root cause'). As a separable verb (离合词), you can insert a resultative complement or measure word between 治 and 标, like 治不了标 ('can't solve the symptoms') or 治了一阵标 ('treated symptoms for a while'). The word is common in medical, political, and management contexts to criticize a superficial fix.
v.o.
(figurative) to treat only the symptomsto take stopgap measures
Examples
- 治标，。Zhège bànfǎ zhǐ néng zhì biāo, bù néng jiějué gēnběn wèntí.This approach only treats the symptoms; it can't solve the root problem.
- ，。Chī le yào zhǐshì zhì le biāo, bìnggēn hái zài.Taking the medicine only treated the symptoms; the root cause of the illness remains.
- ，。Xǔduō duǎnqī zhèngcè 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.
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