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
加州房價那麼高,年輕人根本買不起房子加州房价那么高,年轻人根本买不起房子
The housing prices in California are so high that young people just can’t afford to buy a house.
這個問題根本沒辦法解決这个问题根本没办法解决
This problem cannot be solved at all.
你根本聽不懂我在說什麼你根本听不懂我在说什么
You simply don’t understand what I’m saying.
我根本不認識你,你到底是誰?我根本不认识你,你到底是谁?
I don’t know you at all; who are you, anyway?
他根本沒去過中國,你怎麼會問他中國旅遊的事他根本没去过中国,你怎么会问他中国旅游的事
He has never been to China, so why are you asking him about traveling to China?
我每天加班,根本沒有時間學中文我每天加班,根本没有时间学中文
I work overtime every day; I really just don’t have the time to learn Chinese.
現在來上海旅遊根本不需要現金,全都是電子支付现在来上海旅游根本不需要现金,全都是电子支付
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
我根本不認識你,你到底是誰?我根本不认识你,你到底是谁?
I don’t know you at all; who are you, anyway?
(Emphasizing the impossibility.)
我不認識你,你到底是誰?我不认识你,你到底是谁?
I don’t know you; who are you?
(Just fact.)
我每天加班,根本沒有時間學中文我每天加班,根本没有时间学中文
I work overtime every day; I really just don’t have the time to learn Chinese.
(Emphasizing the impossibility.)
我每天加班,沒有時間學中文我每天加班,没有时间学中文
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.
他不是壞人他不是坏人
- 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.
他並不是壞人他并不是坏人
- 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.
他根本不是壞人他根本不是坏人
- 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
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✔️ Chinese is really not that difficult; you can learn it in just one year.
中文根本不難,只要一年就可以學會了中文根本不难,只要一年就可以学会了
✔️ How is that possible? You’re simply lying.
怎麼可能,你根本在說謊怎么可能,你根本在说谎
✔️ I’m not lying; it’s just that you simply don’t trust me.
我沒說謊,是你根本不信我我没说谎,是你根本不信我