根茎 (gēn jīng) — (botany) rhizome; (botany) stolon, runner

Definition

Botany term for an underground stem that sends out roots and shoots. 根茎 emphasizes the stem part (茎 'stem'), so 'rhizome' fits best; 'stolon/runner' refers to above-ground creeping variants.

noun
(botany) rhizome(botany) stolonrunner
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 根茎。
    Zhè zhǒng zhí wù de gēn jīng kě yǐ rù yào.
    The rhizome of this plant can be used as medicine.
  • 根茎。
    Cǎo méi tōng guò gēn jīng fán zhí.
    Strawberries propagate through runners.
  • 根茎。
    Jiāng shì yì zhǒng cháng jiàn de gēn jīng lèi zhí wù.
    Ginger is a common rhizome-type plant.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

根gēnroot
茎jīngstem

根 gives the underground quality and 茎 the stem, together naming a rhizome.

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 →

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 莖; 茎 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng莖jīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 莖 pairs 艹 (plants) with 巠, which gives the sound; the simplified 茎 is a later shorthand.

Open 茎 →

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