They were treating symptoms and not the root cause.是什么意思？

They were treating symptoms and not the root cause.

他们是治标不治本。

they

pron. 他/她/它们，人们，大家，政府，当局，她们；

例句
The storms had abated by the time they rounded Cape Horn.
他们绕过合恩角时，暴风雨已经减弱。

were

be的过去时复数和第二人称单数形式，有时代替 was,用于条件从句、动词 wish 之后等；

例句
Shops, houses, and vehicles were set ablaze.
店铺、房子和车辆全都陷于火海。

treating

n. 处理；v. 处理( treat的现在分词 )，探讨，对待，请（客）；

例句
Ecologists argue that the benefits of treating sewage with disinfectants are doubtful.
生态学家认为用消毒剂处理污水是否有益值得怀疑。

symptoms

n. 症状( symptom的名词复数 )，征兆；

例句
I developed serious arthritic symptoms and chronic sinusitis.
我得了严重的关节炎和慢性鼻窦炎。

and

conj. 和，与，而且，于是，然后，因此；

例句
I spend a lot on expensive jewelry and clothing...
我花很多钱购买昂贵的首饰和衣服。

not

adv. 不，[用以表示否定、否认、拒绝、禁止等]不是，几乎不，未必，没有[用于否定后面的词或短语]；

例句
It became very clear that the incident was not just an aberration, it was not just a single incident.
事实已经很清楚，这件事不是偶发的，它并不是一起孤立的事件。

the

art. 指已提到的人（物），指说话人与听者已知的人（物），用于独一无二的事物前，与形容词最高级和序数词连用；

例句
He did have a real knowledge of the country...
他对该国的确知之甚多。

root

n. 根，根源，原因，本质，祖先，[乐]和弦基音；vt. 使生根，使固定，根源在于，欢呼，喝彩；vi. 生根，根除；

例句
...those who see television as the root of all evil.
那些将电视视为万恶之源的人

cause

n. 原因，动机，理由，事业；vt. 成为…的原因，导致，引起，使遭受；

例句
Poor posture can cause neck ache, headaches and breathing problems.
姿势不当会导致颈部疼痛、头痛和呼吸困难。