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根深蒂固

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: gēn shēn dì gù
  • English Translation: Deep-rooted (Ingrained)
  • Idiom Composition: 「根」（Root (of a plant).）＋「深」（Deep.）＋「蒂」（The base or stem of a fruit where it attaches to the branch.）＋「固」（Firm, solid, or stable.）
  • Meaning: Literally describing a plant with deep roots and a firm base that cannot be easily pulled out; figuratively, it refers to ideas, habits, or prejudices that are so firmly established over a long period that they are difficult to change or eliminate.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「根深蒂固」 contains the following nuances:

  • Depth of Establishment: The phrase emphasizes that something is not just 'strong,' but has permeated so deeply over time that removal is extremely difficult.
  • Abstract Application: Unlike physical structures, this idiom is almost exclusively applied to abstract concepts like 'thinking,' 'habits,' 'culture,' or 'prejudice.'
  • Resistance to Change: It carries a strong nuance of 'immovability,' often suggesting a barrier to reform, persuasion, or modernization.

3. Usage

「根深蒂固」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Thoughts, Beliefs, and Prejudices: The most common usage, referring to mindsets or biases that have become part of a person's identity or a society's fabric.
    • Example:「这种重男轻女的思想在老一辈人心中依然根深蒂固。」
      （This idea of favoring boys over girls is still deep-seated in the minds of the older generation.)
  • Habits and Vices: Used to describe personal habits or social customs that have been practiced for so long they are nearly impossible to correct.
    • Example:「想要改变他根深蒂固的吸烟习惯并非易事。」
      （It is by no means easy to change his ingrained smoking habit.)
  • Culture and Tradition: A neutral usage describing traditions that are an inseparable part of a community's life.
    • Example:「茶文化在中国人的生活中根深蒂固。」
      （Tea culture is deeply rooted in the lives of Chinese people.)

Additional Examples:

  1. 有些偏见一旦形成，就会变得根深蒂固，很难消除。
    （Once certain prejudices are formed, they become deep-rooted and very difficult to eliminate.）
  2. 这种保守的观念在当地社会根深蒂固，阻碍了新的改革。
    （These conservative concepts are firmly established in the local society, hindering new reforms.）
  3. 虽然我们试图推行新政策，但旧体制的影响依然根深蒂固。
    （Although we are trying to implement new policies, the influence of the old system remains deeply ingrained.）
  4. 他对家乡的热爱是根深蒂固的，无论走到哪里都不会改变。
    （His love for his hometown is unshakeable; it will not change no matter where he goes.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • The phrase originates from the classic philosophical texts *Laozi* (老子) and *Han Feizi* (韩非子). In its original context, it was used as a positive political metaphor for 'strengthening the foundation of the state' to ensure long-term stability.
  • In modern Chinese, the usage has shifted. While it can be neutral, it is frequently used to criticize stubborn social ills or outdated ways of thinking that refuse to go away.
  • Chinese culture frequently uses plant-based metaphors to describe human nature and society. For example, 根深蒂固 (gēn shēn dì gù) focuses on 'immovability,' while 落叶归根 (luò yè guī gēn) focuses on 'returning to one's origins.'

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

The idiom 根深蒂固 (gēn shēn dì gù) uses the visual anchor of a plant's root system to describe abstract concepts like beliefs or social issues. While it can describe a solid foundation, it is most commonly used in modern English contexts to describe **deep-seated** prejudices or **ingrained** habits that resist reform.

Featured in the Chuken exam (Japan's Chinese test)Pre-Level 1

Idiom Essay

gēn shēn dì gù
根深蒂固
Deeply Rooted
wǒ men我们xiān先lái来xiǎng xiàng想象yī kē一棵zhí wù植物。

First, let's imagine a plant.

rú guǒ如果shì是yī kē一棵gāng gāng刚刚cóng从tǔ土lǐ里mào chū lái冒出来de的xiǎo小cǎo草，nǐ你qīng qīng轻轻yī bá一拔，tā它jiù就chū lái出来le了。

If it is a small blade of grass that has just sprouted from the soil, you can pull it out with a gentle tug.

kě shì可是，rú guǒ如果shì是yī kē一棵shēng zhǎng生长le了hěn很duō nián多年de的dà大shù树，tā它de的gēn根yǐ jīng已经shēn shēn深深dì地zuān jìn钻进le了ní tǔ泥土shēn chù深处，hé和dà dì大地jǐn jǐn紧紧zhuā抓zài在yì qǐ一起。

However, if it is a large tree that has grown for many years, its roots have already bored deep into the soil, gripping the earth tightly.

zhè ge这个shí hòu时候，xiǎng yào想要yáo dòng摇动tā它，jī hū几乎shì是bù不kě néng可能de的。

At this point, it is almost impossible to shake it.

zhōng wén中文lǐ里，yǒu有yí gè一个chéng yǔ成语zhuān mén专门xíng róng形容zhè zhǒng这种zhuàng tài状态，jiào叫“gēn shēn dì gù根深蒂固”。

In Chinese, there is an idiom specifically used to describe this state, called 根深蒂固.

“gēn根”shì是shù gēn树根，“dì蒂”shì是huā guǒ花果hé和zhī jīng枝茎lián jiē连接de的dì fāng地方。

根 refers to the roots of a tree, and 蒂 refers to the part where flowers or fruits connect to the stem.

zì miàn字面shàng上kàn看，tā它shuō说de的shì是zhí wù植物jī chǔ基础láo gù牢固。

Literally, it describes a plant having a firm foundation.

dàn但zài在xiàn dài现代shēng huó生活lǐ里，wǒ men我们jī hū几乎bù yòng不用tā它lái来xíng róng形容zhēn zhèng真正de的zhí wù植物。

But in modern life, we almost never use it to describe actual plants.

wǒ men我们yòng用tā它lái来xíng róng形容shén me什么ne呢？

What do we use it to describe?

tōng cháng通常shì是——nà xiē那些hěn很nán难gǎi biàn改变de的xiǎng fǎ想法、xí guàn习惯，huò zhě或者yī zhǒng一种wén huà chuán tǒng文化传统。

Usually, it refers to those ideas, habits, or cultural traditions that are very difficult to change.

nǐ你kě néng可能yǒu有guò过zhè yàng这样de的jīng lì经历：nǐ你xiǎng想gǎi diào改掉yí gè一个duō nián多年de的xiǎo小xí guàn习惯，huò zhě或者shì tú试图shuō fú说服zhǎng bèi长辈jiē shòu接受yí gè一个xīn新guān niàn观念，jié guǒ结果fā xiàn发现fēi cháng非常nán难。

You might have had this experience: you want to change a small habit of many years, or try to persuade an elder to accept a new concept, only to find it extremely difficult.

zhè这bìng并bú shì不是yīn wèi因为tā men他们tīng bù dǒng听不懂nǐ你de的dào lǐ道理，ér shì而是yīn wèi因为nà ge那个jiù旧de的guān niàn观念，yǐ jīng已经zài在tā men他们de的shēng huó生活lǐ里shēng zhǎng生长le了tài太jiǔ久，biàn chéng变成le了tā men他们de的yī bù fèn一部分。

This is not because they don't understand your reasoning, but because that old concept has grown in their lives for so long that it has become a part of them.

zhè这jiù shì就是“gēn shēn dì gù根深蒂固”de的yì si意思。

This is the meaning of 根深蒂固.

zhè ge这个chéng yǔ成语wǎng wǎng往往dài带zhe着yī zhǒng一种“shí jiān时间”de的zhòng liàng重量。

This idiom often carries the weight of time.

tā它gào sù告诉wǒ men我们：yī zhǒng一种piān jiàn偏见，huò zhě或者yí gè一个xià yì shí下意识de的dòng zuò动作，tā men它们bù不xiàng像shēn shàng身上chuān穿de的yī fú衣服，kě yǐ可以suí shí随时tuō脱xià lái下来huàn换yī jiàn一件；tā men它们gèng更xiàng像zhǎng长zài在shēn tǐ身体lǐ里de的gēn根。

It tells us that a prejudice or a subconscious action is not like the clothes we wear, which can be taken off and changed at any time; they are more like roots growing within the body.

lǐ jiě理解le了“gēn shēn dì gù根深蒂固”，yě xǔ也许wǒ men我们huì会duì对zhōu wéi周围de的rén人duō多yì diǎn一点lǐ jiě理解。

By understanding 根深蒂固, perhaps we will have a bit more understanding for the people around us.

xià cì下次，dāng当nǐ你fā xiàn发现mǒu xiē某些shì qíng事情hěn很nán难zài在duǎn shí jiān短时间nèi内gǎi biàn改变shí时，bú yào不要jí zhe急着gǎn dào感到cuò bài挫败。

Next time, when you find that some things are hard to change in a short time, don't be quick to feel frustrated.

nǐ你kě yǐ可以duì对zì jǐ自己shuō说：zhè这shì是yī jiàn一件“gēn shēn dì gù根深蒂固”de的shì qíng事情。

You can say to yourself: this is a 根深蒂固 matter.

jì rán既然shì是shēn shēn深深zhā xià扎下de的gēn根，xiǎng yào想要gǎi biàn改变tā它，zì rán自然yě也xū yào需要màn cháng漫长de的shí jiān时间hé和nài xīn耐心。

Since these are roots planted deep, wanting to change them naturally requires a long time and patience.

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