本末 

Ben and Mo (The Fundamental and the Incidental)

本义指草木的的根和梢，引申而为中国哲学的重要概念。其含义可以概括为三个方面：其一，指具有不同价值和重要性的事物，根本的、主要的事物为“本”，非根本的、次要的事物为“末”。

The two characters literally mean the different parts of a plant, namely, its root and its foliage. The extended meaning is a important concept in Chinese philosophical discourse. 1）Ben(本) refers to what is fundamental or essential while mo(末)means what is minor or incidental, two qualities that differ in value and importance.

其二，世界的本体或本原为“本”，具体的事物或现象为“末”;其三，在道家的政治哲学中，无为之治下的自然状态为“本”，各种具体的道德、纲常为“末”。在“本末”对待的关系中，“本”具有根本性、主导性的作用和意义，“末”由“本”而生，依赖“本”而存在，但“本”的作用的发挥仍需以“末”为载体。二者既相互区别，又相互依赖。

Ben refers to the existence of the world in an ontological sense while mo represents any specific thing or phenomenon. 3) In Daoist political philosophy ben is a state in which rule is exercised by not disrupting the natural order of the world, while mo refers to moral standards and fundamental principles governing social behavior. In any ben mo relationship, ben is most important and plays a dominant role, while mo exists thanks to ben. On the other hand,it is through the vehicle of mo that ben exerts its influence. Thus the two, though different, are mutually dependent.

来源：翻译大王