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Definition 2025

根本

根本

Chinese

radical (chem.); root; basis
 
roots or stems of plants; origin; source; this; the current; root; foundation; basis; (a measure word)
simp. and trad.
(根本) 		根 本

Adjective

根本

  1. fundamental; basic; essential
    對我來說，我們國家的根本問題是我們的教學系統。 [MSC, trad.]
    对我来说，我们国家的根本问题是我们的教学系统。 [MSC, simp.]
    Duì wǒ láishuō, wǒmen guójiā de gēnběn wèntí shì wǒmen de jiàoxué xìtǒng. [Pinyin]
    The way I see it, our country's basic problem is our education system.

Adverb

根本

  1. at all; simply; absolutely
    他根本不知道從哪裡入手找工作。 [MSC, trad.]
    他根本不知道从哪里入手找工作。 [MSC, simp.]
    Tā gēnběn bù zhīdào cóng nǎlǐ rùshǒu zhǎo gōngzuò. [Pinyin]
    He has absolutely no idea how to start looking for work.
    她根本就沒有童年。 [MSC, trad.]
    她根本就没有童年。 [MSC, simp.]
    Tā gēnběn jiù méiyǒu tóngnián. [Pinyin]
    She didn't have any kind of childhood.
  2. radically; thoroughly
    我想從根本解決問題。 [MSC, trad.]
    我想从根本解决问题。 [MSC, simp.]
    Wǒ xiǎng cóng gēnběn jiějué wèntí. [Pinyin]
    I'd like to settle this problem once and for all.

Usage notes

  • The adverb in Sense #1 is almost always followed by a negative expression.

Noun

根本

  1. root; foundation; base; basis
    我們應該把握問題的根本。 [MSC, trad.]
    我们应该把握问题的根本。 [MSC, simp.]
    Wǒmen yìnggāi bǎwò wèntí de gēnběn. [Pinyin]
    We should get to the root of the problem.

Derived terms

  • 根本法

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
根 本
こん
Grade: 3 		ほん > ぽん
Grade: 1
on'yomi

Pronunciation

Noun

根本 ‎(hiragana こんぽん, romaji konpon)

  1. foundation; basis
  2. root; origin

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
根 本
ね
Grade: 3 		もと
Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Pronunciation

Proper noun

根本 ‎(hiragana ねもと, romaji Nemoto)

  1. A surname​.

Pronunciation

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