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    Chinese Grammar

    Using 根本 (gēnběn) to express "at all" or "fundamentally"

    Emphasis
    Negation

    Structure

    根本 + 不/没 + Verb

    Explanation

    The adverb 根本 (gēnběn) means "at all" or "fundamentally" and is commonly used with negation to emphasize that something absolutely does not happen. For example, 根本不能 means "cannot at all." It adds strong emphasis to a negative statement.

    Examples

    • 我根本不知道这件事。

      wǒ gēnběn bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shì.

      I had absolutely no idea about this matter.

    • 他根本没有听我说话。

      tā gēnběn méiyǒu tīng wǒ shuōhuà.

      He wasn't listening to me at all.

    • 这个方法根本行不通，我们换一个吧。

      zhè ge fāngfǎ gēnběn xíng bù tōng, wǒmen huàn yí gè ba.

      This method simply won't work — let's try another one.

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    Using 根本 (gēnběn) to express "at all" or "fundamentally" | Chinese Grammar