How do you pronounce 根?

根 is pronounced "gēn" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 根?

根 is an HSK 5 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 5 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 根?

Common words with 根 include 侧根 (lateral root (botany)), 刨根 (lit. to dig up the root), 去根 (to cure completely), 吐根 (ipecac), 呆根 (fool).

How do you write 根?

根 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 木. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

根 (gēn), root

Q: What does 根 mean in Chinese?

根 (gēn) means "root; basis; classifier for long slender objects, e.g. cigarettes, guitar strings; radical (chemistry)" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 5.

根

gēn

root; basis; classifier for long slender objects, e.g. cigarettes, guitar strings; radical (chemistry)

HSK 5classifier10 strokes

Character Breakdown

根 = 木 + 艮

The stubborn part of a tree — root

Radical: 木 (no. 75)Strokes: 10

View stroke order →

Definitions

(classifier) root
basis
classifier for long slender objects, e.g. cigarettes, guitar strings
radical (chemistry)

Classifier: 条 (tiáo)

Example Sentences

要想解决问题就必须找到问题的根本原因。

Yào xiǎng jiějué wèntí jiù bìxū zhǎodào wèntí de gēnběn yuányīn

To solve a problem, one must find the root cause of the problem

Words Containing 根

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
侧根	cè gēn	lateral root (botany)
刨根	páo gēn	lit. to dig up the root
去根	qù gēn	to cure completely
吐根	tǔ gēn	ipecac
呆根	dāi gēn	fool

Related Words

治本(zhì běn)· to take radical measures

→

Grammar Notes

Towards (向)HSK 3

向 + Direction/Person + Verb

According To (根据)HSK 3

根据 + Source/Basis，Subject + Verb + ...

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 5
HSK 2.0: HSK 5
HSK Lord study list: HSK 4 list

根: HSK 5 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 5 exam

Studying for HSK 5? Keep 根 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 5 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.