树根 (shù gēn) — tree roots | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

tree roots

Measure word · 条

Examples

树根，。
Zhè kē dà shù de shù gēn hěn shēn, bù róng yì bèi fēng chuī dǎo.
The roots of this big tree are deep, so it's not easily blown down by the wind.
树根，。
Gōng rén zhèng zài wā shù gēn, zhǔn bèi bǎ lǎo shù yí zǒu.
Workers are digging up the roots to prepare to move the old tree.
树根，。
Zhè zhǒng zhí wù de shù gēn kě yǐ rù yào, yǒu qīng rè de zuò yòng.
The roots of this plant can be used in medicine; they have a heat-clearing effect.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

“树” and “根” combine to mean the root of a tree.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 樹; 树 is its simplified writing.

木尌樹

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree

Sound part声符shēngfú

尌

尌shù樹shù

Same sound today

Originally 尌, 'to plant a tree', was written alone; the traditional form 樹 adds 木, 'tree', to it to differentiate.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

木艮根

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

艮

艮gèn根gēn(r)

Same sound today

根 pairs 木 (tree/wood), pointing to plant roots, with 艮 as a sound part.

Appears in

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