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根治 (gēn zhì) — to radically cure or solve; to bring under permanent control

Definition

根治 means to cure or solve something at its root — a permanent, fundamental fix (diseases, pollution, social problems). Stronger than 整治, which covers broader 'clean-up, regulate, repair' uses.

verb
to radically cure or solveto bring under permanent control

Examples

  • 根治。
    Zhè zhǒng màn xìng bìng hěn nán gēn zhì.
    This chronic disease is very hard to cure completely.
  • 根治。
    Zhèng fǔ jué xīn gēn zhì fǔ bài wèn tí.
    The government is determined to eradicate corruption.
  • ，根治。
    Zhǐ yǒu cóng yuán tóu zhì lǐ, cái néng gēn zhì wū rǎn.
    Only by treating the source can we permanently control pollution.

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.

根gēnbase
治zhìcure

根 means base and 治 means cure; the combination says curing at the base, i.e. solving a problem thoroughly.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
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.

Open 根 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
台
台tái治zhì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

治 has 水 (water) and 台; 台 gives the sound, and the character named a river.

Open 治 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Medicine & Treatment

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