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归根到底

歸根到底
guīgēndàodǐ
idiom HSK 7 #25,676

Meanings

  1. 1 in the final analysis
  2. 2 at the end of the day
  3. 3 when all is said and done

Characters

归
guī
to return
根
gēn
root
到
dào
to arrive at
底
dǐ
bottom
Return to the root and reach the bottom = ultimately.

Examples

归根到底，还是钱的问题。
Guīgēndàodǐ, háishì qián de wèntí.
At the end of the day, it's still a money problem.
归根到底，他们的失败是因为缺乏准备。
Guīgēndàodǐ, tāmen de shībài shì yīnwèi quēfá zhǔnbèi.
In the final analysis, their failure was due to lack of preparation.
问题归根到底在于管理不善。
Wèntí guīgēndàodǐ zàiyú guǎnlǐ bù shàn.
The problem, when all is said and done, lies in poor management.

Tips

memory
归 (return) + 根 (root) + 到 (to) + 底 (bottom) = return to the root and get to the bottom of it.
usage
Also appears as 归根结底 (guīgēnjiédǐ). Both forms are equally common and interchangeable.

Stroke Order

归 guī
根 gēn
到 dào
底 dǐ