Difference between revisions of "Comparing "genben" and "daodi""
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| − | The main differences between 根本 and 到底 is that 根本 is used to emphasize negation and 到底 is used in a question to ask the result of something. | + | The main differences between 根本 (gēnběn) and 到底 (dàodǐ) is that 根本 is used to emphasize negation and 到底 is used in a question to ask the result of something. |
== 根本 can be used to emphasize a negative statement, 到底 cannot be used this way == | == 根本 can be used to emphasize a negative statement, 到底 cannot be used this way == | ||
| − | 根本 is often used to | + | 根本 is often used to emphasize sentences with 不 or 没（有）. Using 根本 this way is a response to something stated beforehand. Using 到底 this way would be incorrect. |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 我 <em>根本</em> 不 知道 如何 有效 地 管理。 | + | * 我 <em>根本</em> 不 知道 如何 有效 地 管理。<span class="trans">I just don't know how to manage effectively.</span> |
| − | * 你 为什么 说 昨天 在 街上 看到 我 了？我 <em>根本</em> 没有 出去！ | + | * 你 为什么 说 昨天 在 街上 看到 我 了？我 <em>根本</em> 没有 出去！<span class="trans">Why did say you saw me on the street yesterday? I didn't even go out!</span> |
| − | * 他 只 是 一 个 小 孩子，<em>根本</em> 没 见 过 这么 吓人 的 事情。 | + | * 他 只 是 一 个 小 孩子，<em>根本</em> 没 见 过 这么 吓人 的 事情。<span class="trans">He's just a small kid. He hasn't ever seen such scary stuff.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == 到底 is usually used with question words,根本 | + | == 到底 is usually used with question words,根本 is not == |
| − | 到底 implies some kind of inquiry, and acutally it can be thought of as "on earth", as in "what on | + | 到底 implies some kind of inquiry, and acutally it can be thought of as "on earth", as in "what on earth are you doing?" It always includes some kind of question word, such as 谁, 什么, 哪里, and so on, or it can even be used with [[Yes-no questions with "ma"|yes-no questions]]. |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 今天 新 同事 又 迟到 了，他 <em>到底</em> 想 不 想 在 这里 做 了？ | + | * 今天 新 同事 又 迟到 了，他 <em>到底</em> 想 不 想 在 这里 做 了？<span class="trans">The new co=worker came late again today. Does he want to work here or not? |
| − | * 你 的 包 这么 重！你 <em>到底</em> 带了 多少 东西？ | + | * 你 的 包 这么 重！你 <em>到底</em> 带了 多少 东西？<span class="trans">Your bag is so heavy! How much stuff are you even carrying?</span> |
| − | * 会议 已经 开 了 两个小时 了，我们 <em>到底</em> 什么时候 结束？ | + | * 会议 已经 开 了 两个小时 了，我们 <em>到底</em> 什么时候 结束？<span class="trans">The meeting has already been going on for two hours. When on earth are we going to finish?</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li class="x">我 <em>到底</em> 不知道 为什么 我 女朋友 很 生气。</li> | + | <li class="x">我 <em>到底</em> 不知道 为什么 我 女朋友 很 生气。<span class="expl">"到底" is normally used for questions.</span></li> |
| − | <li class="o">我 <em>根本</em> 不知道 为什么 我 女朋友 很 生气。</li> | + | <li class="o">我 <em>根本</em> 不知道 为什么 我 女朋友 很 生气。<span class="expl">"根本" emphasizes the negation.</span></li> |
| − | <li class="x">他 <em>到底</em> 没 有 听 我 的 话。</li> | + | <li class="x">他 <em>到底</em> 没 有 听 我 的 话。<span class="expl">"到底" is normally used for questions.</span></li> |
| − | <li class="o">他 <em>根本</em> 没 有 听 我 的 话。</li> | + | <li class="o">他 <em>根本</em> 没 有 听 我 的 话。<span class="expl">"根本" emphasizes the negation.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li class="x">老板 还 没有 透露 我们 <em>根本</em> 能 发 多少 | + | <li class="x">老板 还 没有 透露 我们 <em>根本</em> 能 发 多少 奖金.<span class="expl">"根本" should be used with negations</span></li> |
| − | <li class="o">老板 还 没有 透露 我们 <em>到底</em> 能 发 多少 | + | <li class="o">老板 还 没有 透露 我们 <em>到底</em> 能 发 多少 奖金.<span class="expl">"到底" is used to emphasize the speaker's impatience.</span></li> |
| − | <li class="x">那么，你们 <em>根本</em> 为什么 不 喝 酒 呢？</li> | + | <li class="x">那么，你们 <em>根本</em> 为什么 不 喝 酒 呢？<span class="expl">"根本" should be used to emphasize the negation, not the question.</span></li> |
| − | <li class="o">那么，你们 <em>到底</em> 为什么 不 喝 酒 呢？</li> | + | <li class="o">那么，你们 <em>到底</em> 为什么 不 喝 酒 呢？<span class="expl">"到底" emphasizes the question.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 02:40, 12 July 2013
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The main differences between 根本 (gēnběn) and 到底 (dàodǐ) is that 根本 is used to emphasize negation and 到底 is used in a question to ask the result of something.
Contents
根本 can be used to emphasize a negative statement, 到底 cannot be used this way
根本 is often used to emphasize sentences with 不 or 没（有）. Using 根本 this way is a response to something stated beforehand. Using 到底 this way would be incorrect.
Examples
- 我 根本 不 知道 如何 有效 地 管理。I just don't know how to manage effectively.
- 你 为什么 说 昨天 在 街上 看到 我 了？我 根本 没有 出去！Why did say you saw me on the street yesterday? I didn't even go out!
- 他 只 是 一 个 小 孩子，根本 没 见 过 这么 吓人 的 事情。He's just a small kid. He hasn't ever seen such scary stuff.
到底 is usually used with question words,根本 is not
到底 implies some kind of inquiry, and acutally it can be thought of as "on earth", as in "what on earth are you doing?" It always includes some kind of question word, such as 谁, 什么, 哪里, and so on, or it can even be used with yes-no questions.
Examples
- 今天 新 同事 又 迟到 了，他 到底 想 不 想 在 这里 做 了？The new co=worker came late again today. Does he want to work here or not?
- 你 的 包 这么 重！你 到底 带了 多少 东西？Your bag is so heavy! How much stuff are you even carrying?
- 会议 已经 开 了 两个小时 了，我们 到底 什么时候 结束？The meeting has already been going on for two hours. When on earth are we going to finish?
Examples of right and wrong sentences
- 我 到底 不知道 为什么 我 女朋友 很 生气。"到底" is normally used for questions.
- 我 根本 不知道 为什么 我 女朋友 很 生气。"根本" emphasizes the negation.
- 他 到底 没 有 听 我 的 话。"到底" is normally used for questions.
- 他 根本 没 有 听 我 的 话。"根本" emphasizes the negation.
- 老板 还 没有 透露 我们 根本 能 发 多少 奖金."根本" should be used with negations
- 老板 还 没有 透露 我们 到底 能 发 多少 奖金."到底" is used to emphasize the speaker's impatience.
- 那么，你们 根本 为什么 不 喝 酒 呢？"根本" should be used to emphasize the negation, not the question.
- 那么，你们 到底 为什么 不 喝 酒 呢？"到底" emphasizes the question.
Sources and further reading
Books
- Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼) (p.34) →buy
- Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇)(p.90) →buy
- Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 2 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇)（p.183) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 197-8) →buy
