# 根 root

木 (tree) + 良 (good)
★★★☆☆
10 strokes
PN

## Onyomi

KON | This is a weird tree because the CONES are not on the branches but instead they grow from the roots.

## Mnemonic

| It's good for trees to have a root. Stability and nutrients from the soil. You know the deal.

## Kunyomi

ね | root ★★★☆☆

## Jukugo

根本(こんぽん) | the fundamentals ★★★☆☆ 根 (root) + 本 (book / the real) = 根本 (the fundamentals) the fundamentals (how is it different from 基本？ Well, with 根本, the emphasis is: the fundamental, deep, organizing principles, not the most easy 'for dummies' bits). The essential and underlying - as opposed to on the surface and easily apparent) Also handy:こんぽんてきな (the adjective form)
屋根(やね) | roof ★★☆☆☆ KUN ON 屋 (store) + 根 (root) = 屋根 (roof) roof . That's right, not root. Roof!
根気(こんき) のよい / のわるい | patience ★★☆☆☆ 根 (root) + 気 (mood) = 根気 (patience) patience. You need 根気 to be able to 我慢 (がまん）。 Often used like 根気がいい（she's very patient!) or, 根気よくｘｘｘした！　(you did xxx very patiently!)
根性(こんじょう) | balls ★★☆☆☆ 根 (root) + 性 (sex / essential nature) = 根性 (balls) guts　/balls (for instance, giving yourself cigarette burns to prove some kind of point about being a man)

## Lookalikes

| Meaning | Hint | Radical
--- | --- | --- | ---
恨 | hold a grudge | HEART | 心
根 | root | TREE | 木

Simple!
You hold a grudge in your HEART,

but the TREE has a root.

## Synonyms

endure, persevere 我慢 忍耐 根気 忍ぶ 堪忍する
fundamentals 根本的 本来 基本的 基盤 基礎
guts 闘志 根性 意地