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Definition 2024


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)

Adjective

根本

  1. fundamental; basic; essential
    來說我們國家根本問題我們教學系統 [MSC, trad.]
    来说我们国家根本问题我们教学系统 [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
    根本知道哪裡入手工作 [MSC, trad.]
    根本知道哪里入手工作 [MSC, simp.]
    gēnběn bù zhīdào cóng nǎlǐ rùshǒu zhǎo gōngzuò. [Pinyin]
    He has absolutely no idea how to start looking for work.
    根本沒有童年 [MSC, trad.]
    根本没有童年 [MSC, simp.]
    gēnběn jiù méiyǒu tóngnián. [Pinyin]
    She didn't have any kind of childhood.
  2. radically; thoroughly
    根本解決問題 [MSC, trad.]
    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
    我們應該把握問題根本 [MSC, trad.]
    我们应该把握问题根本 [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
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

Grade: 3
もと
Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Pronunciation

Proper noun

根本 (hiragana ねもと, romaji Nemoto)

  1. A surname.