Chinese Character: 根
1. Character Basics
Radical: 木 (mù, tree/wood, indicates related to plants or wood)
Stroke Count: 10
Stroke Order:
Structure Analysis: Left-right structure. The left part "木" (tree) is the semantic component, and the right part "艮" (gèn, stop) is the phonetic component.
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gēn (First tone)
3. Meaning
Core Meaning: Root; foundation; basis; radical (in Chinese characters); piece (of something long)
Explanation: Primarily refers to the underground part of a plant that absorbs water and nutrients. Metaphorically, it can mean the foundation or origin of something.
4. Common Words
- 根本 (gēn běn) - Root; foundation; fundamental
Example: 这是问题的根本原因。(Zhè shì wèn tí de gēn běn yuán yīn.) - This is the root cause of the problem.
- 根据 (gēn jù) - Basis; foundation; according to
Example: 根据事实说话。(Gēn jù shì shí shuō huà.) - Speak according to the facts.
- 根源 (gēn yuán) - Root; origin; source
Example: 找出问题的根源。(Zhǎo chū wèn tí de gēn yuán.) - Find the root of the problem.
- 根部 (gēn bù) - Root (part of a plant)
Example: 这棵树的根部很发达。(Zhè kē shù de gēn bù hěn fā dá.) - This tree has a well-developed root system.
- 一根 (yì gēn) - A piece (of something long)
Example: 给我一根筷子。(Gěi wǒ yì gēn kuài zi.) - Give me a chopstick.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Noun; Measure word
Usage Patterns:
- As a noun:
Example: 植物的根很重要。(Zhí wù de gēn hěn zhòng yào.) - A plant's roots are very important.
- As a measure word (for long, thin objects):
Example: 一根绳子 (yì gēn shéng zi) - A rope
两根铅笔 (liǎng gēn qiān bǐ) - Two pencils - In idioms and set phrases:
Example: 根深蒂固 (gēn shēn dì gù) - Deep-rooted; Firmly established
Common Collocations:
- 树根 (shù gēn) - Tree root
- 草根 (cǎo gēn) - Grass root; Common people
- 字根 (zì gēn) - Character radical
- 根绝 (gēn jué) - To eradicate; To eliminate completely
6. Cultural Background
The character "根" (gēn) holds profound cultural significance in Chinese society, symbolizing origins, heritage, and connection to one's homeland.
Cultural Symbolism:
- In Chinese culture, "根" often represents one's roots or ancestry. The concept of "寻根" (xún gēn, seeking one's roots) is deeply valued.
- The famous saying "落叶归根" (luò yè guī gēn, fallen leaves return to the root) expresses the idea that people eventually return to their hometown or origin.
- In traditional Chinese philosophy, "根" symbolizes the foundation of all things, reflecting the importance of having a solid basis.
Historical Context: The character has been used in Chinese texts for over 2,000 years, evolving from its original meaning of plant roots to its broader metaphorical uses.
Modern Relevance: Today, "根" continues to be an important cultural symbol, especially for overseas Chinese who maintain strong connections to their cultural roots.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
Chinese: 这棵树的根很长。
Pinyin: Zhè kē shù de gēn hěn cháng.
English: This tree has long roots.
Example 2:
Chinese: 我们要忘记自己的根。
Pinyin: Wǒ men bù yào wàng jì zì jǐ de gēn.
English: We should not forget our roots.
Example 3:
Chinese: 他需要一根绳子来绑东西。
Pinyin: Tā xū yào yì gēn shéng zi lái bǎng dōng xi.
English: He needs a rope to tie things.
8. Memory Tips
- Component Association: Remember that "根" consists of "木" (tree) and "艮" (stop). Think of tree roots that stop soil erosion.
- Image Association: Visualize a tree with deep roots in the ground to remember the meaning of "root".
- Cultural Memory: Associate "根" with the Chinese cultural concept of "落叶归根" (fallen leaves return to the root).
- Common Phrases: Practice using "根" in common phrases like "根本" (fundamental) and "根据" (basis) to remember its usage.