Chinese word

斩草除根

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhǎn cǎo chú gēn

Meaning

  • idiomroot out

Example

这个害群之马必须斩草除根。zhè ge hài qún zhī mǎ bì xū zhán cǎo chú gēn

This troublemaker must be rooted out.

Illustration for 斩草除根 (root out)

More examples

政府决定对黑恶势力实行斩草除根的打击。zhèng fǔ jué dìng duì hēi è shì lì shí xíng zhán cǎo chú gēn de dǎ jī

The government decided to launch a crackdown to root out criminal gangs.

Core concept

A problem is cut back to its source, with every hidden part removed so it cannot grow again.

Common phrases

  • 必须斩草除根bì xū zhán cǎo chú gēn

    must root out

  • 采取斩草除根的措施cái qǔ zhán cǎo chú gēn de cuò shī

    take measures to root out

Similar words

斩尽杀绝zhǎn jìn shā jué: Eliminate a harmful force completely, leaving no part of it behind.
连根拔起lián gēn bá qǐ: Uproot a problem together with its underlying source so that it cannot arise again.
除恶务尽chú è wù jìn: Remove evil or harm thoroughly until nothing remains.

Definition in Chinese

彻底根绝某种害处或弊端，连带清除其所有潜在来源以彻底防止复发。chè dǐ gēn jué móu zhǒng hài chù huò bì duān lián dài qīng chú qí suó yǒu qián zài lái yuán yǐ chè dǐ fáng zhǐ fù fā

Word origin

The idiom 斩草除根 (zhǎncǎochúgēn, "cut grass and remove roots") comes from the literal farming image of removing a plant's roots so it does not grow back.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this idiom sounds forceful and is most natural for serious problems, harmful practices, or persistent trouble rather than small routine mistakes.

Opposites

  • 治标不治本zhì biāo bú zhì běntreat the symptoms onlyidiom

Related words

  • 除根chú gēnroot outverb

Word lists with this word