追根 (zhuī gēn) — to get to the root of something; to trace somet… | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

追根 means to trace something back to its source or root cause. It typically appears in set phrases like 追根究底 and 追根溯源.

verb

to get to the root of somethingto trace something to its source

Examples

追根。
Zhè jiàn shì wǒ men yí dìng yào zhuī gēn dào dǐ.
We must get to the root of this matter.
，。
Tā zhuī le bàn tiān gēn, hái shì méi zhǎo dào yuán yīn.
He traced it for a long time but still didn't find the cause.
？
Nǐ zhuī de shì shén me gēn?
What root are you tracing?

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

追 chase and 根 root name tracing something to its source.

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.

辶𠂤追

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuòmovement

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠂤

𠂤𠂤追zhuī

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The 辶 part shows movement, while 𠂤 gives the sound, for the sense of moving after or pursuing.

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.

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