Emphasize a negation 2 – gēnběn

Grammar Point:
根本 gēnběn is a Chinese adverb that the speaker uses to emphasize a negative view or a sense of impossibility. It often conveys a strong sense of negation or skepticism in sentences, highlighting that something is fundamentally lacking or impossible.

Structure

S + gēnběn + V

加州jiāzhōu房價fángjià那麼nàme高gāo， 年輕人niánqīngrén根本gēnběn買不起mǎibùqǐ房子fángzi加州jiāzhōu房价fángjià那么nàme高gāo， 年轻人niánqīngrén根本gēnběn买不起mǎibuqǐ房子fángzi
The housing prices in California are so high that young people just can’t afford to buy a house.

這個zhège問題wèntí根本gēnběn沒辦法méibànfǎ解決jiějué这个zhège问题wèntí根本gēnběn没办法méibànfǎ解决jiějué
This problem cannot be solved at all.

你nǐ根本gēnběn聽不懂tīngbùdǒng我wǒ在zài說shuō什麼shénme你nǐ根本gēnběn听不懂tīngbudǒng我wǒ在zài说shuō什么shénme
You simply don’t understand what I’m saying.

我wǒ根本gēnběn不bú認識rènshi你nǐ， 你nǐ到底dàodǐ是shì誰shéi？ 我wǒ根本gēnběn不bú认识rènshì你nǐ， 你nǐ到底dàodǐ是shì谁shéi？
I don’t know you at all; who are you, anyway?

他tā根本gēnběn沒méi去qù過guò中國Zhōngguó， 你nǐ怎麼zěnme會huì問wèn他tā中國Zhōngguó旅遊lǚyóu的de事shì他tā根本gēnběn没méi去qù过guò中国Zhōngguó， 你nǐ怎么zěnme会huì问wèn他tā中国Zhōngguó旅游lǚyóu的de事shì
He has never been to China, so why are you asking him about traveling to China?

我wǒ每天měitiān加班jiābān， 根本gēnběn沒有méiyǒu時間shíjiān學xué中文zhōngwén我wǒ每天měitiān加班jiābān， 根本gēnběn没有méiyǒu时间shíjiān学xué中文zhōngwén
I work overtime every day; I really just don’t have the time to learn Chinese.

現在xiànzài來lái上海shànghǎi旅遊lǚyóu根本gēnběn不bù需要xūyào現金xiànjīn， 全quán都dōu是shì電子diànzǐ支付zhīfù现在xiànzài来lái上海shànghǎi旅游lǚyóu根本gēnběn不bù需要xūyào现金xiànjīn， 全quán都dōu是shì电子diànzǐ支付zhīfù
Traveling to Shanghai nowadays doesn’t require cash at all; it’s all electronic payments.

FYI
Shanghai has gone all-in on digital living, and everyday tasks are all managed through smartphones, especially with electronic payment options like Alipay and WeChat. Most folks haven’t used cash in ages. If you really want to pay with cash, make sure to have the exact amount because businesses might not have change on hand.
Additionally, when you dine out, it’s common to order by scanning QR codes. These QR codes are usually found at the corners of restaurant tables. After scanning, you get the entire menu, linked to your table number. You can then place orders, calculate the bill, and often even pay directly through integrated payment systems. So, if you’re a tourist without WeChat or Alipay, ordering can get pretty inconvenient.

Let’s Compare the Following Sentences

我wǒ根本gēnběn不bú認識rènshi你nǐ， 你nǐ到底dàodǐ是shì誰shéi？ 我wǒ根本gēnběn不bú认识rènshì你nǐ， 你nǐ到底dàodǐ是shì谁shéi？
I don’t know you at all; who are you, anyway?
(Emphasizing the impossibility.)

我wǒ不bú認識rènshi你nǐ， 你nǐ到底dàodǐ是shì誰shéi？ 我wǒ不bú认识rènshì你nǐ， 你nǐ到底dàodǐ是shì谁shéi？
I don’t know you; who are you?
(Just fact.)

我wǒ每天měitiān加班jiābān， 根本gēnběn沒有méiyǒu時間shíjiān學xué中文zhōngwén我wǒ每天měitiān加班jiābān， 根本gēnběn没有méiyǒu时间shíjiān学xué中文zhōngwén
I work overtime every day; I really just don’t have the time to learn Chinese.
(Emphasizing the impossibility.)

我wǒ每天měitiān加班jiābān， 沒有méiyǒu時間shíjiān學xué中文zhōngwén我wǒ每天měitiān加班jiābān， 没有méiyǒu时间shíjiān学xué中文zhōngwén
I work overtime every day; I don’t have the time to learn Chinese.
(Just fact.)

並 bìng VS 根本 gēnběn

Both 並 bìng and 根本 gēnběn can be used to emphasize negation, 根本 gēnběn carries a stronger and more absolute sense of contradiction or disbelief compared to 並 bìng, which implies a milder contrast. The choice between them depends on the level of emphasis you want to convey in a given context.

他tā不是búshì壞人huàirén他tā不是búshì坏人huàirén

• This sentence simply states, “He is not a bad person.”
• It provides a straightforward negation of the idea that he is a bad person without any additional emphasis or contrast.

他tā並bìng不是búshì壞人huàirén他tā并bìng不是búshì坏人huàirén

• This sentence adds the adverb 並 bìng to slightly emphasize the negation.
• It can be translated as “He is not, in fact, a bad person” or “Contrary to what you might think, he is not a bad person.”
• The use of 並 bìng adds a bit of contrast or unexpectedness to the statement, but it’s still relatively mild.

他tā根本gēnběn不是búshì壞人huàirén他tā根本gēnběn不是búshì坏人huàirén

• This sentence uses 根本 gēnběn, which adds a stronger level of emphasis and negation.
• It can be translated as “He is absolutely not a bad person” or “He is not a bad person at all.”
• 根本 gēnběn emphasizes that there is no doubt or ambiguity in the negation and can convey a sense of disbelief in any suggestion to the contrary.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Chinese is really not that difficult; you can learn it in just one year.

中文zhōngwén根本gēnběn不難bùnán， 只zhǐ要yào一年yìnián就jiù可以kěyǐ學xué會huì了le中文zhōngwén根本gēnběn不难bùnán， 只zhǐ要yào一年yìnián就jiù可以kěyǐ学xué会huì了le

✔️ How is that possible? You’re simply lying.

怎麼zěnme可能kěnéng， 你nǐ根本gēnběn在zài說謊shuōhuǎng怎么zěnme可能kěnéng， 你nǐ根本gēnběn在zài说谎shuōhuǎng

✔️ I’m not lying; it’s just that you simply don’t trust me.

我wǒ沒méi說謊shuōhuǎng， 是shì你nǐ根本gēnběn不bú信xìn我wǒ我wǒ没méi说谎shuōhuǎng， 是shì你nǐ根本gēnběn不bú信xìn我wǒ