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To debate or discuss issues that do not actually exist, often to avoid addressing real problems.
会议上大家讨论不存在的问题，完全没有解决实际困难。
In the meeting, they discussed non-existent issues and didn't address any real difficulties.
Often used to criticize unproductive discussions that distract from important matters.
Use this phrase when you want to criticize a discussion that is wasting time on irrelevant or hypothetical problems instead of focusing on real issues.
Do not translate word-for-word ('discuss non-existent problems'). The idiomatic equivalent in English focuses on the 'arguing' or 'debating' aspect.
The phrase combines '讨论' (discuss) + '不存在' (nonexistent) + '的问题' (issues). It emerged in modern Chinese as a critique of unproductive debates, particularly in workplace or political contexts.
Commonly used in Mandarin Chinese to describe discussions that are irrelevant or based on false premises. Often implies criticism of the participants' priorities.