歸根究底

简 归根究底 · 繁 歸根究底
Mandarin · pinyin guī gēn jiū dǐ

Meanings

  1. (idiom) in the final analysis
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Characters in this entry

歸
Look up this written character
根
gēn · root, base(d on); foundation
究
jiū · examine, investigate
底
dǐ · bottom, underneath, underside
归
guī · return; return to, revert to
Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

1–1–1–3 · gui1 gen1 jiu1 di3

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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.

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