根

gēn

noun HSK 4 #909

Meanings

Contains the wood radical 木, as roots belong to trees and plants.

Zhè kē shù de gēn hěn shēn.

This tree has deep roots.

Gěi wǒ yī gēn kuàizi.

Give me a chopstick.

usage

根 is a measure word for long thin objects: 一根头发 (a strand of hair), 一根绳子 (a rope), 一根香蕉 (a banana). Also in 根本 (gēnběn, fundamental/at all).

grammar

根本 (gēnběn) is very useful: as adjective it means 'fundamental', as adverb with negation it means 'not at all': 我根本不知道 (I had no idea at all).

根 gēn