治本 (zhì běn) — to address the root cause; to take fundamental…

Definition

治本 means to fix the underlying cause of a problem, not just the surface symptoms. It is the natural opposite of 治标 (treat the symptoms only).

verb

to address the root causeto take fundamental measures

治本，。
Jiě jué zhè ge wèn tí yào zhì běn, bù néng zhī zhì biāo.
To solve this problem, you must address the root cause, not just treat the symptoms.
，。
Zhè zhǒng yào zhǐ néng zhì biāo, zhì bù liǎo běn.
This medicine can only treat the symptoms; it can't cure the root cause.
治本。
Huán jìng zhì lǐ bì xū cóng yuán tóu zhì běn.
Environmental management must address the root at the source.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

本běnfundamental base

治 means to manage or treat and 本 means the fundamental base, giving the idea of addressing the fundamental cause.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

台

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

治 has 水 (water) and 台; 台 gives the sound, and the character named a river.

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.