HSK Level 3

根本

gēn běn

root; basic; fundamental

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Example Sentences

根本没有必要这样做。

gēnběn méiyǒu bìyào zhèyàng zuò.

There is absolutely no need to do this.

根本原因在于缺乏沟通。

gēnběn yuányīn zàiyú quēfá gōutōng.

The root cause lies in the lack of communication.

根本不可能完成这个任务。

gēnběn bùkěnéng wánchéng zhège rènwù.

It is simply impossible to complete this task.

Synonyms

基础 (jīchǔ)

foundation

根本 (gēnběn)

root

Antonyms

表面 (biǎomiàn)

surface

枝节 (zhījié)

details

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 根本 (gēnběn) is composed of two characters: 根 (gēn), meaning "root," and 本 (běn), meaning "origin" or "foundation." Together, these characters convey the idea of something that is fundamental, essential, or at the root of something else.The word 根本 is often used in a philosophical or abstract sense to refer to the underlying principles or foundations of something. For example, in the phrase 世界观的根本 (shìjièguān de gēnběn), which means "the fundamental principles of a worldview," the word 根本 refers to the basic ideas or beliefs that form the foundation of a person's or group's understanding of the world.In a more concrete sense, 根本 can also be used to refer to the root cause or underlying reason for something. For example, in the phrase 问题的根本原因 (wèntí de gēnběn yuányīn), which means "the root cause of a problem," the word 根本 refers to the underlying factor or factors that are responsible for causing the problem.Overall, the word 根本 is a versatile and important term in Chinese that can be used to express a variety of ideas related to foundations, principles, and root causes.