治标不治本

to treat only the symptoms but not the root cause

to treat the symptoms; reactive (rather than proactive)

to treat the symptoms rather than getting to the root of the problem (proverb); reactive (rather than proactive)

lit. to prescribe the right medicine for an illness (idiom); fig. to study a problem to find the right way to solve it; to take appropriate steps

to tackle a problem at its root; to effect a permanent solution (contrasted with 治标)

lit. drinking poison in the hope of quenching one's thirst (idiom); fig. a supposed remedy that only makes matters worse