刨根问底

刨根問底
páogēnwèndǐ
idiom #24,126

Meanings

  1. 1 to get to the root of the matter
  2. 2 to dig deep for the truth
  3. 3 to get to the bottom of something

Examples

Tā zuòshì xǐhuān páogēnwèndǐ, nòng qīngchǔ měi yīgè xìjié.
He likes to get to the root of things and clarify every detail.
Bié páogēnwèndǐ le, yǒuxiē shìqíng bù xūyào zhīdào nàme qīngchǔ.
Stop digging so deep — some things don't need to be that clear.

Tips

memory
(to dig up) + (root) + (to ask) + (bottom) — literally 'dig up the root and ask about the bottom.' A vivid image of someone relentlessly excavating the truth.

Stroke Order

páo
gēn
wèn