gan1 bun2根本
Jyutpinggan1 bun2
Yalegān bún
Definition
The foundation, base, core, or essential part of something.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
Beyond its literal meaning as a foundation, this word is frequently used as an adverb to mean "at all" or "simply" when negating a situation. It carries a sense of firm conviction or frustration when you want to emphasize that something is fundamentally not the case. It is much stronger than just saying 唔係.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
The root of this problem is money.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 基本上, which means "basically" or "on the whole." While 根本 points to the absolute root or core, 基本上 suggests a general approximation or a situation that is mostly true.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
