zhāgēn

扎根

HSK 7-9Word · VerbTraditional紮根

to take root; to become established

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 7 examples
1.

verb

(of a plant) to take root; for roots to grow into the soil

Literally describes the biological process of a plant's roots establishing themselves in the ground.

Xiǎo小
shù树
miáo苗
zài在
féi肥
wò沃
de的
tǔ土
rǎng壤
lǐ里
zhā扎
le了
gēn根
 。

The young sapling has taken root in the fertile soil.

Zhè这
zhǒng种
zhí植
wù物
hěn很
nán难
zài在
gān干
hàn旱
dì地
qū区
zhā扎
gēn根
 。

This type of plant has difficulty taking root in arid regions.

Show 1 more example
Què确
bǎo保
zhǒng种
zi子
yǒu有
zú足
gòu够
de的
shuǐ水
fèn分
cái才
néng能
shùn顺
lì利
zhā扎
gēn根
 。

Ensure the seeds have enough moisture to take root successfully.

2.

verb

to become deeply involved; to establish oneself firmly (in a community, field, etc.)

A metaphorical extension. Often used to describe someone integrating into a new environment, community, or field of work, and laying a solid foundation for long-term development.

Tā他
xuǎn选
zé择
zhā扎
gēn根
jī基
céng层
 ,
wèi为
cūn村
mín民
men们
fú服
wù务
 。

He chose to go down to the grassroots level and serve the villagers.

Zhè这
wèi位
kē科
xué学
jiā家
zài在
nóng农
cūn村
zhā扎
le了
gēn根
 ,
yī一
gàn干
jiù就
shì是
èr二
shí十
nián年
 。

This scientist put down roots in the countryside and worked there for twenty years.

Show 2 more examples
Wǒ我
men们
de的
gōng公
sī司
yào要
xiǎng想
cháng长
jiǔ久
fā发
zhǎn展
 ,
bì必
xū须
zài在
zhè这
piàn片
shì市
chǎng场
zhā扎
gēn根
 。

For our company to develop long-term, we must establish a firm foothold in this market.

Wài外
lái来
wén文
huà化
xū需
yào要
shí时
jiān间
lái来
zài在
dāng当
dì地
wén文
huà化
zhōng中
zhā扎
gēn根
 。

Foreign cultures need time to take root within the local culture.