根部 (gēn bù) — root (of a plant) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

root (of a plant)

Examples

根部。
Zhè kē shù de gēn bù hěn shēn.
The roots of this tree are very deep.
根部。
Yí zhí shí yào xiǎo xīn bǎo hù gēn bù.
When transplanting, be careful to protect the roots.
根部。
Zhè zhǒng zhí wù de gēn bù kě yǐ rù yào.
The roots of this plant can be used in medicine.

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 names the base of a plant and 部 names the part, so it means the base part.

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.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

咅

咅pǒu部bù

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

部 pairs 咅, which gives the sound, with 邑. It originally named a place in today's Gansu.

Appears in

Plants & Flowers

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