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斬草除根

简斩草除根 · 繁斬草除根

Mandarin · pinyin zhǎn cǎo chú gēn

to cut weeds and eliminate the roots (idiom); to destroy root and branch
to eliminate completely

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Characters in this entry

斬: Look up this written character
草: cǎo · grass, straw, thatch, herbs
除: chú · eliminate, remove, except
根: gēn · root, base(d on); foundation
斩: zhǎn · cut, chop, sever; behead

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

3–3–2–1 · zhan3 cao3 chu2 gen1

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

斬草除根 · find source passages ↗ · 斩草除根 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

zaam2 cou2 ceoi4 gan1

Cantonese word readings for 斬草除根. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) to root out; to nip in the bud; to eliminate completely

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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