Chinese–EnglishWith examples

根本

gēn běn · gen ben

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 3Old HSK 5Measure word: 个 gè

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. fundamental
  2. basic
  3. root
  4. simply
  5. absolutely (not)
  6. (not) at all
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In a conversation

0:16 cartoon

I never knew

  1. Liangliang

    昨天(zuótiān)的(de)活动(huódòng)，你(nǐ)为什么(wèishénme)没(méi)来(lái)？

    Why did you not come to yesterday's event?

  2. Dengdeng

    什么(shénme)活动(huódòng)？我(wǒ)根本(gēnběn)不(bù)知道(zhīdào)。

    What event? I did not know at all.

  3. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)在(zài)群里(qúnlǐ)发了(fāle)好几次(hǎojǐcì)。

    I posted it in the group chat many times.

  4. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)根本(gēnběn)没(méi)看(kàn)群(qún)。

    I did not look at the group chat at all.

  5. Liangliang

    那(nà)你(nǐ)每天(měitiān)看(kàn)手机(shǒujī)看(kàn)什么(shénme)？

    Then what do you look at on your phone every day?

  6. Dengdeng

    看(kàn)小狗(xiǎogǒu)的(de)视频(shìpín)。

    Videos of... puppies.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)你(nǐ)要(yào)拿(ná)到(dào)驾(jià)照(zhào)根(gēn)本(běn)不(bù)难(nán)。

I think you'll have very little difficulty in getting a driver's license.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

他(tā)根(gēn)本(běn)不(bù)知(zhī)道(dào)这(zhè)件(jiàn)事(shì)。

He has no idea about this at all.

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Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
根
gēn

root; basis

本
běn

(bound form) root; stem; (bound form) origin; source

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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