Meaning of 根
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- root
- basis
- classifier for long slender objects, e.g. cigarettes, guitar strings
- radical (chemistry)
Measure word: 條|条
How to use 根
根 means root, literally or figuratively, and it appears in words like 根本 (gēnběn, fundamental) and 根据 (gēnjù, according to). It is also a common measure word for long, thin things such as cigarettes, sticks, ropes and strings. Example: 我买了一根香蕉。(Wǒ mǎi le yì gēn xiāngjiāo.) I bought a banana.
根 combines 木 (mù, tree) on the left with 艮 (gèn) on the right, which hints at the sound. Picture the part of a tree that stays fixed in the ground: its root.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 根 (gēn) with 跟 (gēn, with; to follow), which sounds the same but has 足 on the left. Another trap is using 条 (tiáo) and 根 interchangeably. 根 suits stiff or thin items like 一根筷子 (a chopstick), while 条 is for long, flexible things like 一条鱼 (a fish) or 一条路 (a road).
根 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
根 gēn · root · 10 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Related words
Words that share a character with 根.
| 根本 | gēnběn | fundamental; basic |
| 根据 | gēnjù | according to; based on |
| 根源 | gēnyuán | origin; root (cause) |
| 根基 | gēnjī | foundation |
| 扎根 | zhāgēn | to take root |
| 斩草除根 | zhǎncǎo-chúgēn | to cut weeds and eliminate the roots (idiom); to destroy root and branch; to eliminate com |
| 根深蒂固 | gēnshēn-dìgù | deep-rooted (problem etc) |
| 根治 | gēnzhì | to bring under permanent control; to effect a radical cure |
| 归根到底 | guīgēn-dàodǐ | after all; in the final analysis |
| 培根 | péigēn | (loanword) bacon |
| 压根 | yàgēn | (mainly used in the negative) in the first place; absolutely; simply |
| 根除 | gēnchú | to eradicate |
Questions about 根
What does 根 mean?
根 (gēn) means "root; basis" and is used as a measure word and noun.
How do you write 根?
根 is made of 1 character: 根 (10 strokes). That is 10 strokes in total.
Is 根 an HSK word?
Yes. 根 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 根本 mean when used before a negative?
Before 不 or 没, 根本 means "at all" or "simply". For example, 我根本不知道 (wǒ gēnběn bù zhīdào) means "I have no idea at all."
How do you use 根据 in a sentence?
根据 usually starts a phrase meaning "according to" or "based on", placed before the main clause. For example, 根据天气预报，明天会下雨 (gēnjù tiānqì yùbào, míngtiān huì xià yǔ) means "According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow."