根本

gēnběn

adverb HSK 3 #342

Meanings

1 fundamental; basic; root
2 (not) at all; simply (used with negation)

Characters

origin; foundation

Literally 'root and origin' — the most fundamental level.

Examples

他根本不知道。

Tā gēnběn bù zhīdào.

He doesn't know at all.

这是根本问题。

Zhè shì gēnběn wèntí.

This is a fundamental problem.

我根本没说过这话。

Wǒ gēnběn méi shuō guò zhè huà.

I never said that at all.

Tips

usage

根本 + 不/没 is a very common emphatic negation pattern meaning 'not at all' or 'absolutely not': 根本不可能 (absolutely impossible).

Stroke Order

根 gēn

本 běn