根本

• Pinyin: gēn běn
• Hanzi breakdown: 根 = 木 (wood) + 艮 (stubborn/firm), meaning root; 本 = 木 (tree) + 一 (one), indicating the base of a tree

Meaning

Fundamentally; at all; not at all. Used to emphasize the completeness of a negation or to refer to the root of something.

Most commonly used as an adverb in negative sentences to mean 'not at all' or 'absolutely not.' As an adjective or noun, refers to something fundamental or essential. In daily speech, 根本 + 不/没/没有 is a very strong way to deny something.

Examples

1. 我根本不知道这件事。 I had no idea about this at all.
2. 他根本没来过我家。 He has never been to my house at all.
3. 这才是问题的根本原因。 This is the root cause of the problem.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, emphasis, argument

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 我根本没说过这样的话。(I never said anything like that at all.)
• 这个根本不是问题。(This is not a problem at all.)

Don't Say

• 我根本喜欢你。(Don't use 根本 in positive sentences to mean 'really' — it almost always pairs with negation. Use 真的 or 非常 instead)

Origin & History

根 (root) + 本 (base, origin). Both characters relate to the foundation of plants, metaphorically meaning 'the very base' or 'fundamentally.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal