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歸根結底

简归根结底 · 繁歸根結底

Mandarin · pinyin guī gēn jié dǐ

in the final analysis
ultimately

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Characters in this entry

歸: Look up this written character
根: gēn · root, base(d on); foundation
結: jié · knot, tie; join, connect
底: dǐ · bottom, underneath, underside
归: guī · return; return to, revert to
结: jié · knot, tie; join, connect

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

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Mandarin tones

1–1–2–3 · gui1 gen1 jie2 di3

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Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

Connected dictionary

5character links1same-tone record

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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.

歸根結底 · find source passages ↗ · 归根结底 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

gwai1 gan1 git3 dai2

Cantonese word readings for 歸根結底. 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) all in all; ultimately it comes down to

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

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