syu6 daai6 gan1 sam1樹大根深树大根深
Jyutpingsyu6 daai6 gan1 sam1
Yalesyuh daaih gān sām
Definition
Deep-rooted and powerful; having a strong and well-established foundation.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is frequently applied to organizations, political powers, or long-standing traditions that possess significant influence and stability. It carries a slightly formal or literary tone, often used when discussing the difficulty of challenging an established entity. While it describes strength, it often carries a nuance of being immovable or resistant to change.
Examples
This company is deep-rooted, who could possibly shake it?
Their influence is deep-rooted, it is not that easy to deal with.
Related words
Common phrases
influence is deep-rooted
company is deep-rooted
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of a tree, but it is almost exclusively used metaphorically for abstract concepts like power or influence. Using it to describe a literal plant would sound unnatural and confusing to a native speaker.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
