一根根 (yī gēn gēn) — (classifier reduplication) each and every (for… | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Reduplication of the measure word 根, used to emphasize 'one by one' or 'each and every' for long thin objects (chopsticks, cigarettes, pencils). The number 一 adds a sense of progression — going through them individually.

numeral

(classifier reduplication) each and every (for long thin objects)one by one

Examples

一根根。
Tā bǎ kuài zi yī gēn gēn dì ná le chū lái.
He took out the chopsticks one by one.
一根根。
yī gēn gēn Xiāng yān dōu bèi tā diǎn zháo le.
Each and every cigarette was lit by him.
一根根。
Dì shàng fàng zhe yī gēn gēn qiān bǐ.
On the floor are pencils placed one by one.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

根根every long thin thing

根gēnlong thin thing根gēnlong thin thing

一 with 根根 means each long thin thing.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

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.

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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