Definition
寻根 means 'to seek one's roots' — it refers to tracing one's ancestral origins, family history, or cultural heritage. It's a separable verb (离合词): the verb 寻 can be separated from the object 根 when adding duration, measure words, or complements, e.g. 寻过一次根 ('have traced roots once'). The concept is deeply cultural in Chinese-speaking communities, often used in the context of diaspora Chinese returning to their ancestral hometowns or researching their family lineage.
v.o.
to seek one's roots (ancestral or cultural)
Examples
- 寻根。Hěnduō hǎiwài huárén huí guó xín.Many overseas Chinese return to their homeland to seek their roots.
- 。Tā qùnián huí lǎojiā xún guò yí cì gēn.He went back to his hometown last year to trace his roots once.
- 寻根。Zhè běn shū jiǎng de shì xín de gùshi.This book tells a story about seeking one's roots.
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