根 (gēn) — (noun) root; basis; origin; (classifier) for long, slender objects such as sticks, cigarettes, ropes
Definition
A measure word for long, thin objects (ropes, cigarettes, sticks); as a noun it means 'root' or 'root cause'. It overlaps with 枝 and 杆 as a classifier, but 根 is the most common default — use 枝 for branches/pens, 杆 for poles.
noun
rootbasisorigin
classifier
for longslender objects such as stickscigarettesropes
Measure word · 条
Examples
- 根。Zhè kē shù de gēn hěn jiàn kāng.The roots of this tree are very healthy.
- 。Zhè shì wèn tí de gēn yuán.This is the root of the problem.
- 根。Tā ná chū yì gēn shéng zi lái kǔn xiāng zi.He took out a rope to tie up the box.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
根 pairs 木 (tree/wood), pointing to plant roots, with 艮 as a sound part.
Appears in
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