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追根究底

Mandarin · pinyin zhuī gēn jiū dǐ

to get to the heart of the matter

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Characters in this entry

追: zhuī · pursue, chase after; expel
根: gēn · root, base(d on); foundation
究: jiū · examine, investigate
底: dǐ · bottom, underneath, underside

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

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Mandarin tones

1–1–1–3 · zhui1 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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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 2 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

zeoi1 gan1 gau3 dai2

Cantonese word readings for 追根究底. 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) to get to the bottom of the matter
(idiomatic) to make a thorough inquiry into something

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

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack