HSK 6 · Function Words

归根到底 guīgēndàodǐ “in the final analysis” in Chinese

Traditional 歸根到底

What 归根到底 means

  1. in the final analysis
  2. after all
  3. ultimately

How to say 归根到底

  • Pitch chart of the first tone: stays high and level, 5 to 5 on the five-level scale归guī1st tone, high and level
  • Pitch chart of the first tone: stays high and level, 5 to 5 on the five-level scale根gēn1st tone, high and level
  • Pitch chart of the fourth tone: falls from high to low, 5 to 1 on the five-level scale到dào4th tone, falling
  • Pitch chart of the third tone: dips low then rises, 2 to 1 to 4 on the five-level scale底dǐ3rd tone, dipping

归根到底 in a sentence

  1. 归根到底，学习还是要靠自己。

    Guīgēndàodǐ, xuéxí háishi yào kào zìjǐ.

    In the end, learning comes down to you.

    Sentence by WillyChina

  2. 这个问题归根到底是时间不够。

    Zhè ge wèntí guīgēndàodǐ shì shíjiān búgòu.

    At the end of the day, the problem is that there isn’t enough time.

    Sentence by WillyChina

How 归根到底 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 归 (guī) drawn as one shape
归guīto return

归 is a single shape of 5 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.

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.

The character 到 (dào) with each of its parts in a different colour
到dàoto reach; to arrive
  • 至arrive · zhìMeaning part
  • 刂knife form of 刀 · dāoSound part

至 hints at the meaning (arrive); 刂 (dāo) hints at the sound. Compare it with dào.

Memory aidArrive 至 gives the meaning; the knife 刂 (刀 dāo) gives the sound: to arrive.

The character 底 (dǐ) with each of its parts in a different colour
底dǐbottom; base
  • 广shelter · guǎngMeaning part
  • 氐the name of an ancient tribe · dǐSound part

广 hints at the meaning (shelter); 氐 (dǐ) hints at the sound. Compare it with dǐ.

How to write 归根到底

归 5 strokes · 根 10 strokes · 到 8 strokes · 底 8 strokes

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

归根到底 (guīgēndàodǐ) stroke order chart: each stroke of the characters in the order you write them
Stroke order chart for 归根到底 (guīgēndàodǐ). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.

Words related to 归根到底

Words with 归

归纳guīnà · to sum up归还guīhuán · to return (something)

Words with 根

根据gēnjù · according to根gēn · root根本gēnběn · (not) at all根源gēnyuán · root根深蒂固gēnshēndìgù · deep-rooted

Words with 到

到dào · to迟到chídào · arrive late遇到yùdào · to meet想到xiǎngdào · to think of感到gǎndào · to feel见到jiàndào · to see做到zuòdào · to accomplish直到zhídào · until得到dédào · to get收到shōudào · to receive

Words with 底

底dǐ · bottom到底dàodǐ · after all彻底chèdǐ · thorough

More words: Function Words & Grammar

番fān · (measure word for actions or efforts)凡是fánshì · every反之fǎnzhī · conversely公然gōngrán · openly过于guòyú · excessively姑且gūqiě · for the time being固然gùrán · admittedly嗨hāi · hi

FAQs

归根到底 (guīgēndàodǐ) means “in the final analysis” or “after all”. It is an HSK 6 word.
Say it guīgēndàodǐ: guī with a 1st tone, then gēn with a 1st tone, then dào with a 4th tone, then dǐ with a 3rd tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
In Traditional characters, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 归根到底 is written 歸根到底. The pronunciation is the same.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type guigendaodi with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 归根到底 from the suggestions. Typing guigendaodi into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
归根到底 is an HSK 6 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.

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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 written by WillyChina. Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.