proceed from the exterior to the interior (/from the outside to the inside/from the surface to what lies behind/from outward appearance to inner essence)
? 分析問題，要～。The analysis of problems should be proceeded from the surface to what lies behind.
由表及里yóu biǎo jí lǐ
從外到里，由表面現(xiàn)象到本質(zhì)內(nèi)容。proceed from the outside to the inside, from the outside to the inside, through the out into the inside