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根本 (gēn běn) — (adverb, used before a negative) at all; simply; absolutely; (adjective) fundamental; basic; root; (noun) foundation; root; basis

Definition

Trips up learners: 根本 as an adverb means 'at all / simply' before a negative (我根本不知道). As a noun/adjective it means 'foundation / root' — close to 基础 but more abstract, pointing to the origin rather than the practical base.

noun
(adverb, used before a negative) at allsimplyabsolutelyfoundationrootbasis
adjective
fundamentalbasicroot
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 根本。
    Wǒ gēn běn bù xǐ huan zhè ge diàn yǐng.
    I simply don't like this movie.
  • 根本。
    Xué xí yǔ yán de gēn běn fāng fǎ shì duō liàn xí.
    The fundamental method of learning a language is to practice more.
  • 根本。
    Gōng sī hé yuán gōng zhī jiān de xìn rèn shì hé zuò de gēn běn.
    Trust between the company and employees is the foundation of cooperation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

根gēnbase
本běnorigin

Both 根 and 本 refer to the base or origin, giving 'fundamental' or 'at all'.

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
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 →

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

本 adds a stroke at the bottom of a tree shape to mark the roots, giving the sense of foundation or original.

Open 本 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 51000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsAbstract Concepts2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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