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根除 (gēn chú) — to eradicate, to root out

Definition

根除 (gēnchú) means to eliminate something completely, including its root cause — stronger than 消除 (which can be mere removal). Used for problems, bad habits, or diseases that must be wiped out at the source.

verb
to eradicateto root out

Examples

  • 根除。
    Zhèng fǔ zhèng zài nǔ lì gēn chú pín kùn.
    The government is working hard to eradicate poverty.
  • 根除。
    Zhè zhǒng jí bìng yǐ jīng bèi wán quán gēn chú le.
    This disease has been completely eradicated.
  • 根除。
    Wǒ men bì xū gēn chú zhè xiē bù liáng xí guàn.
    We must root out these bad habits.

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gēnlowest base
除chúremove

根 gives the lowest base and 除 gives remove, yielding complete elimination.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阜阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú除chú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

除 is built from 阜 and 余, with 余 giving the sound.

Open 除 →
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