How do you pronounce 追本溯源?

追本溯源 is pronounced as "zhuī běn sù yuán" in Mandarin Chinese.

追本溯源

Q: What does 追本溯源 mean?

追本溯源 (zhuī běn sù yuán) literally means "Chase root trace source" and metaphorically means "Trace back to source". It belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category of Chinese idioms.

Q: When is 追本溯源 used?

追本溯源 is used when The researcher tracked the problem to its root cause.

追本溯源 (zhuī běn sù yuán) literally means “chase root trace source” and expresses “trace back to source”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.

Also searched as: zhui ben su yuan, zhui ben su yuan,追本溯源 meaning, 追本溯源 in english

Trace back to source

Pronunciation: zhuī běn sù yuán Literal meaning: Chase root trace source

Origin & Usage

To chase (追) the root (本) and trace (溯) the source (源). Both halves are the same instruction in different terrain, one botanical and one riverine, and 溯 specifically means moving against the current — the work is upstream and harder than going with it. That is the sense the phrase carries: not merely asking why but travelling back through the intervening causes one at a time. It belongs to investigation, etymology and root-cause analysis.

Examples

English: "The researcher tracked the problem to its root cause"

Chinese: 研究人员追踪到问题的根源

Related Chinese Idioms

Similar idioms about wisdom & learning

本末倒置

běn mò dào zhì

Prioritize minor over fundamental matters

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胸有丘壑

xiōng yǒu qiū hè

Have great vision

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笑里藏刀

xiào lǐ cáng dāo

Hide malice behind smile

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浩浩荡荡

hào hào dàng dàng

Moving in overwhelming numbers

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驷马难追

sì mǎ nán zhuī

Cannot undo what's done

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见微知著

jiàn wēi zhī zhù

Foresee big from small signs

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披沙拣金

pī shā jiǎn jīn

Find value among worthless

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察言观色

chá yán guān sè

Read between lines

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does 追本溯源 mean in English?

追本溯源 (zhuī běn sù yuán) literally translates to “Chase root trace source” and is used to express “Trace back to source”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.