HSK 5 · Function Words

根 gēn “root” in Chinese

Same in Traditional

What 根 means

  1. root
  2. measure word for long thin objects
  3. basis
  4. classifier for long slender objects, e.g. cigarettes, guitar strings
  5. radical (chemistry)

Measure word 条 tiáo · 一条根 yì tiáo gēn

How to say 根

  • Pitch chart of the first tone: stays high and level, 5 to 5 on the five-level scale根gēn1st tone, high and level

根 in a sentence

  1. 请问你可以给我根牙签吗？

    Qǐngwèn nǐ kěyǐ gěi wǒ gēn yáqiān ma?

    Excuse me, could you give me a toothpick?

    Sentence #8725799 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

  2. 你一周吃多少根香蕉？

    Nǐ yì zhōu chī duōshǎo gēn xiāngjiāo?

    How many bananas do you eat a week?

    Sentence #13539440 from Tatoeba · converted to simplified characters

  3. 我的怀疑没有根据。

    Wǒ de huáiyí méiyǒu gēnjù.

    My suspicions had no basis.

    Sentence #8534770 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

How 根 is built

Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.

The character 根 (gēn) with each of its parts in a different colour
根gēnroot
  • 木tree · mùMeaning part
  • 艮stopping · gěnSound part

木 hints at the meaning (tree); 艮 (gěn) hints at the sound. Compare it with gēn.

How to write 根

根 10 strokes

Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.

根 (gēn) stroke order chart: each stroke of the character in the order you write it
Stroke order chart for 根 (gēn). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.

Words related to 根

Words with 根

根据gēnjù · according to根本gēnběn · (not) at all根源gēnyuán · root根深蒂固gēnshēndìgù · deep-rooted归根到底guīgēndàodǐ · in the final analysis

More words: Function Words & Grammar

赶紧gǎnjǐn · hurriedly赶快gǎnkuài · quickly格外géwài · especially各自gèzì · each怪不得guàibude · no wonder!果然guǒrán · really哈hā · ha! (laughter)何必hébì · there is no need

FAQs

根 (gēn) means “root” or “measure word for long thin objects”. It is an HSK 5 word.
Say it gēn: gēn with a 1st tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
Yes. 根 is written the same way in Simplified and Traditional characters.
Use 条 (tiáo). For example, one root is 一条根 (yì tiáo gēn).
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type gen with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 根 from the suggestions. Typing gen into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
根 is an HSK 5 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.

Turn words into conversations

A dictionary gives you the words. A native teacher shows you how to use them. Start with a free 30-minute intro call.

Book a free intro call

Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.