Sinograph Addenda · Signs
本root · běn · root, trunk; the fundamental
root
Where it comes from
Your tree 木tree · mù · tree; wood with a mark at the base: point at the root and you
have named the fundamental. With its twin 末tip · mò · tip, branch-end; the incidental it gives classical
argument one of its favorite pairs — 本root · běn · root, trunk; the fundamental末tip · mò · tip, branch-end; the incidental, the essential versus
the incidental. Taught in
the roots-and-tips chapter.
How to remember it
Underline the bottom of the tree: this part, the root —
where the growing starts and the arguing should.
In the wild
君lord · jūn · lord, ruler; (君子) the noble man子child · zǐ · child, son; the Master; a title of respect務本root · běn · root, trunk; the fundamental，本root · běn · root, trunk; the fundamental立而and-then · ér · and, and then, but — the clause-linker道way · dào · way, road; the Way; to guide生grow · shēng · to grow, to be born; life。jūn zǐ wù běn, běn lì ér dào shēng"the noble person works at the root; when the root is set, the Way grows" — the root is care close to home, and everything larger grows from it; 本root · běn · root, trunk; the fundamental twice, hinge of the whole sentence
Analects 1.2.
urn:nabu:kanripo:KR1h0004:001:2a · license: attribution.