斩草除根

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: zhǎn cǎo chú gēn
• English Translation: To cut the grass and pull up the roots (to eradicate root and branch)
• Idiom Composition: 「斩」（To cut, chop, or behead）＋「草」（Grass or weeds (a metaphor for something harmful or unwanted)）＋「除」（To remove or eliminate）＋「根」（Roots (the fundamental cause or source)）
• Meaning: To eliminate a problem or evil thoroughly by removing its source, ensuring it cannot recur. It implies a firm and sometimes ruthless determination to prevent future trouble.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「斩草除根」 contains the following nuances:

• Thorough Elimination: The idiom emphasizes destroying the 'source' of a problem rather than just dealing with surface-level symptoms. It is a warning against half-hearted measures.
• Prevention of Recurrence: The logic follows that if the roots remain, the problem will inevitably return. The primary goal is to ensure future peace by removing the potential for a relapse.
• Ruthless Nuance: Because it is often used regarding enemies or criminals, it can carry a cold or merciless tone, implying that no mercy should be shown to the source of the evil.

3. Usage

「斩草除根」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Eliminating Social Evils or Bad Habits: Used when showing determination to completely end social problems like corruption and crime, or to break a personal bad habit.
  • Example:「打击网络诈骗必须斩草除根，不能只抓几个从犯了事。」
    （Cracking down on online fraud must eradicate the problem root and branch; we cannot just settle for catching a few accomplices.）
• Wiping Out Opposing Forces: Common in historical or competitive contexts, referring to defeating an opponent so thoroughly that they cannot recover.
  • Example:「为了防止敌人卷土重来，将军下令斩草除根。」
    （To prevent the enemy from making a comeback, the general ordered his troops to completely eliminate them.）
• Medical Treatment: Used metaphorically to describe curing a disease fundamentally so that it does not return.
  • Example:「这种病如果不斩草除根，很容易复发。」
    （If this illness is not thoroughly cured from the root, it will easily recur.）

Additional Examples:

1. 对于这种严重的腐败现象，我们必须采取严厉措施，斩草除根。
   （We must take strict measures to completely root out such serious corruption.）
2. 做事要干脆利落，斩草除根，免得以后麻烦。
   （One should handle matters decisively and eliminate the source of trouble to avoid future problems.）
3. 如果不把这些谣言斩草除根，它们会继续误导公众。
   （If we don't thoroughly suppress these rumors, they will continue to mislead the public.）
4. 要想解决环境污染问题，就得从源头上斩草除根。
   （To solve the problem of environmental pollution, we must tackle it at the source.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Source: This idiom originates from the Zuo Zhuan (左传), specifically the 6th year of Duke Yin. It stems from the advice that those who perform good deeds must strive to remove the roots of evil so they cannot flourish again.
• Literary Connection: It is often discussed alongside the famous poem by Bai Juyi (白居易): 'Wildfire cannot burn them all; they grow again when the spring breeze blows' (野火烧不尽，春风吹又生). This poem highlights the resilience of weeds, serving as the reason why 斩草除根 (zhǎn cǎo chú gēn) is necessary.
• Usage Note: This is a very strong expression. Using it for trivial daily matters might sound hyperbolic. It is best reserved for serious issues or strong declarations of intent.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 除恶务尽 (chú è wù jìn): Evil must be completely eradicated; one must be thorough when eliminating wickedness.
  • 斩尽杀绝 (zhǎn jìn shā jué): To kill everyone and wipe them out completely; a more violent and literal version of the idiom.
  • 一劳永逸 (yī láo yǒng yì): To achieve lasting results with a single effort.link
  • 一干二净 (yī gān èr jìng): Completely clean; without a trace.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 放虎归山 (fàng hǔ guī shān): To release a tiger back to the mountain; to let a threat go and leave a source of future trouble.
  • 养虎遗患 (yǎng hǔ yí huàn): To rear a tiger and cause future trouble; to appease or tolerate an evil person only to have them harm you later.
  • 藕断丝连 (ǒu duàn sī lián): Though a relationship has ended, emotional ties still remain.link
  • 不了了之 (bù liǎo liǎo zhī): To leave a matter unsettled.link

6. Summary

The idiom 斩草除根 (zhǎn cǎo chú gēn) describes the act of not just cutting down weeds but digging up their roots to prevent them from growing back. It is used to express the complete removal of the cause of a disaster or problem to eliminate any possibility of a relapse. This term is often applied in serious contexts, such as fighting corruption, ending bad habits, or decisively defeating an opponent.