← ChinesePath Chinese Dictionary

根本(gēnběn) — meaning, uses and examples

1. noun foundation; the most essential part

   教育是国家发展的根本。

   Jiàoyù shì guójiā fāzhǎn de gēnběn.

   Education is the foundation of a nation's development.

2. adjective fundamental; root (mostly attributive)

   我们要找出问题的根本原因。

   Wǒmen yào zhǎochū wèntí de gēnběn yuányīn.

   We need to find the root cause of the problem.

3. adverb at all; simply (mostly used in the negative)

   我根本不认识他。

   Wǒ gēnběn bù rènshi tā.

   I don't know him at all.