压根儿 (yà gēn r) — at all, from the start (used emphatically in negative sentences)

Definition

A strong colloquial adverb meaning 'at all, from the start' — used almost exclusively in negative sentences to emphatically deny that something ever happened or exists. Functions like 根本 in tone, but is more spoken and less common in writing.

adverb
at allfrom the start (used emphatically in negative sentences)

Examples

  • 压根儿。
    Wǒ yà gēn r bù zhī dào zhè jiàn shì.
    I didn't know about this at all.
  • 压根儿。
    Tā yà gēn r méi xiǎng guò yào jié hūn.
    He never thought about getting married at all.
  • 压根儿。
    Zhè jiàn shì yà gēn r jiù bù cún zài.
    This matter simply doesn't exist at all.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

压根at all
压yā根gēn
儿ér

The sense at all comes from 压根, and 儿 gives the erhua form.

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 壓; 压 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔdust
Sound part声符shēngfú
厭
厭yàn壓yā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 壓 is built from 土, dust, and 厭, which gives the sound; 压 is the simplified form of 壓.

Open 压 →

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape 儿 is a simple drawing of a standing person, used as an alternate form of the character for person.

Open 儿 →

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