本 běn — roots or stems of plants; origin; source; this; the current; root
我借了三本书。Wǒ jiè le sān běn shū.I borrowed three books.
Common words: 本子 (běn zi)、课本 (kè běn)、笔记本 (bǐ jì běn)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "root"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "root", including 本 (běn), 根 (gēn), 源 (yuán). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "root" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 本 (běn), 根 (gēn), 源 (yuán) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span běn, gēn, yuán — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 本 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 本 běnroots or stems of plants; origin; source; this; the current; rootUseful words: 本子, 课本
- 根 gēnradical (chem.); root; basisUseful words: 根本, 根据
- 源 yuánroot; source; originUseful words: 资源, 来源
Common words for these 3 "root" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 本 (běn) — so "root" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
本子běn zibook; notebook; Japanese-style self-published comic (esp. an erotic one), aka "dōjinshi"; edition课本kè běntextbook笔记本bǐ jì běnnotebook (stationery) (; (computing) laptop; notebook根本gēn běnfundamental; basic; root; simply根据gēn jùaccording to; based on; basis; foundation根源gēn yuánorigin; root (cause)资源zī yuánnatural resource (such as water or minerals); resource (such as manpower or tourism)来源lái yuánsource (of information etc); origin电源diàn yuánelectric power source
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "root".
根 gēn — radical (chem.); root; basis
这棵大树的根很深。Zhè kē dà shù de gēn hěn shēn.The roots of this big tree are very deep.
Common words: 根本 (gēn běn)、根据 (gēn jù)、根源 (gēn yuán)
源 yuán — root; source; origin
水是生命的源泉。Shuǐ shì shēng mìng de yuán quán.Water is the source of life.
Common words: 资源 (zī yuán)、来源 (lái yuán)、电源 (diàn yuán)
All 3 characters
Open 本、根、源 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.