根子 (gēn zǐ) — (colloquial) root cause, source, origin (of a p…

Definition

Colloquial noun for the 'root cause' of a problem or undesirable situation — a vivid, everyday alternative to the more formal 根源.

noun

(colloquial) root causesourceorigin (of a problem or undesirable situation)

Measure word · 个

Easily confused

根子。
Zhè xiē máo dùn de gēn zǐ zài jīng jì wèn tí.
The root cause of these conflicts lies in economic issues.
根子。
Wǒ men yào cóng gēn zǐ shàng jiě jué zhè ge wèn tí.
We need to solve this problem from its root.
根子。
Tā fēn xī chū shì gù de gēn zǐ shì guǎn lǐ shū hu.
He analyzed that the root of the accident was management negligence.

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.

根 points to a source or origin, and 子 adds a familiar colloquial tone, so 根子 means the origin of a problem.

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.

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.

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.