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刨根问底 (páo gēn wèn dǐ) — to get to the bottom of things; to investigate thoroughly; to be inquisitive about details

Definition

A chengyu meaning to dig into the very root and ask down to the bottom — i.e., to investigate something thoroughly and keep asking until every detail is clear. Often used when someone is overly inquisitive.

idiom
to get to the bottom of thingsto investigate thoroughlyto be inquisitive about details

Examples

  • 刨根问底，。
    Tā duì zhè jiàn shì zǒng shì xǐ huan páo gēn wèn dǐ, ràng rén yǒu diǎn fán.
    He always likes to get to the bottom of this matter — it's a bit annoying.
  • 刨根问底。
    Zuò kē yán jiù yào yǒu páo gēn wèn dǐ de jīng shén.
    Doing scientific research requires a spirit of getting to the bottom of things.
  • 刨根问底，。
    Bié páo gēn wèn dǐ le, zhè jiàn shì dào cǐ wéi zhǐ ba.
    Stop digging into it — let's stop here with this matter.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

刨根dig the root
刨páodig根gēnroot
动宾Verb + object
问底ask the bottom
问wènask底dǐbottom
动宾Verb + object

刨根问底 joins 刨根, dig the root, and 问底, ask the bottom, to mean thorough investigation.

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
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
包
包bāo刨páo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

刨 puts 刀, a knife, beside 包, which gives the sound.

Open 刨 →

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 問; 问 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
門
門mén問wèn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 問 combines 口 (mouth) with 門, which gives the sound; the simplified 问 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 问 →

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
广广guǎngbuilding
Sound part声符shēngfú
氐
氐dī底dǐ
Same sound today

底 pairs 广 (building) with 氐, pointing to the bottom or foundation of a building. Some read 氐 as a bowing figure or tree root, adding a sense of 'down'.

Open 底 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesThinking & Cognition

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