根

• Pinyin: gēn
• Hanzi breakdown: 根 = 木 (wood/tree) + 艮 (firm, phonetic component)

Meaning

Root (of a plant or tree); measure word for long, thin objects such as sticks, ropes, fingers, and chopsticks.

As a noun, 根 refers to the root of a plant, and metaphorically to the origin or foundation of something (根本 = fundamental, 根源 = root cause). As a measure word, it counts long slender objects: 一根筷子 (one chopstick), 一根头发 (a strand of hair), 一根绳子 (a rope). It is one of the most commonly used shape-based measure words.

Examples

1. 这棵大树的根长得很深，很难拔出来。 The roots of this big tree grow very deep and are very hard to pull out.
2. 她递给我两根筷子，让我坐下来一起吃饭。 She handed me two chopsticks and asked me to sit down and eat together.
3. 工人在地上插了几根木棍，标记出施工的范围。 The workers stuck several wooden stakes in the ground to mark the construction area.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, nature, formal

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请给我一根筷子。(Please give me a chopstick.)
• 这个问题的根在于缺乏沟通。(The root of this problem lies in a lack of communication.)

Don't Say

• 不要把量词'根'用于扁平或圆形的物体 — 应改用'张'或'个'等合适的量词 (Don't use 根 as a measure word for flat or round objects — use 张 or 个 as appropriate)

Origin & History

The character 根 combines 木 (wood/tree) with 艮 (firm/stubborn), which serves as the phonetic component. The image is of something fixed and deep within a tree — its root.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal