走彎路 [－弯－]

Jyutping zau2 waan1 lou6
Pinyin zǒu wān lù

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. to take an indirect route
  2. to waste one's time by using an inappropriate method
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. verb, figuratively
    to waste one's time and energy because one has followed the wrong direction; to take an indirect route
Definitions (HSK3.0)
  1. HSK3 七一九级词汇表 #5598
Examples (Wiktionary)
  1. Mandarin
    为了走直路而走弯路，是许多事物在发展过程中所不可避免的现象，何况军事运动。
    為了走直路而走彎路，是許多事物在發展過程中所不可避免的現象，何況軍事運動。
    wèi le zǒu zhí lù ér zǒu wān lù ， shì xǔ duō shì wù zài fā zhǎn guò chéng zhōng suǒ bù kě bì miǎn de xiàn xiàng ， hé kuàng jūn shì yùn dòng ．
    • To take a roundabout route in order to get on to the direct route—this is inevitable in the process of development of many phenomena, especially military movements.