Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
根朽枝枯
根朽枝枯
根朽枝枯
根朽枝枯
根朽枝枯
根朽枝枯
根朽枝枯
根朽枝枯
根朽枝枯
根朽枝枯

根朽枝枯 — “If the roots decay, the branches will wither”

根朽枝枯 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “If the roots decay, the branches will wither”. It metaphorically means that if something loses its foundation or has a fundamental problem, it will inevitably decline and perish. Literally, “roots rot, branches wither”.

Frequency

根朽枝枯 Pronunciation and Pinyin

根朽枝枯 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
根
gēn10root, foundation, or basis
朽
xiǔ6decay, rot, perish
枝
zhī8branch or twig
枯
kū9dry up, wither

Example Sentence with 根朽枝枯

如果一个组织失去了其核心价值观,就会像根朽枝枯,最终走向衰败。
If an organization loses its core values, it will be like the roots rot and the branches wither, eventually heading towards decline.

Idioms Related to 根朽枝枯

More idioms starting with 根

  • gēn根zhuàng壮yè叶mào茂strong roots, luxuriant leaves
  • gēn根gū孤jì伎báo薄isolated and unskilled
  • gēn根jù据pán槃hù互entrench oneself and conspire
  • gēn根jù据pán盘hù互entrench oneself and collude
  • gēn根zhū株qiān牵lián连implicated by association
  • gēn根zhū株jié结pán盘deep-rooted intricate relationships
  • gēn根zhū株fù附lì丽attach oneself to the powerful
  • gēn根chuán椽piàn片wǎ瓦a very simple and humble dwelling
  • gēn根qiǎn浅mén门wēi微from a humble family with shallow roots
  • gēn根shēn深yè叶mào茂deep roots, lush leaves
  • gēn根shēn深gù固běn本deep roots, firm foundation
  • gēn根shēn深gù固dì蒂deeply rooted and stable

Recommended tools

Character Highlight Animator

Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order

Open the tool →

Bingo Cards

Picture and word Bingo for your class

Open the tool →

Writing Worksheets

Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion

Open the tool →

Chinese Text Image Generator

Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes

Open the tool →

Questions about 根朽枝枯

What does 根朽枝枯 mean?

根朽枝枯 (gēn xiǔ zhī kū) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “If the roots decay, the branches will wither”.

How do you pronounce 根朽枝枯?

根朽枝枯 is pronounced gēn xiǔ zhī kū in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 根朽枝枯 literally mean?

Literally, 根朽枝枯 means “roots rot, branches wither”. It is used to mean “If the roots decay, the branches will wither”.

What is the Chinese definition of 根朽枝枯?

朽:腐烂;枯:枯槁。树根腐烂了,树枝就会枯萎。比喻事物失去了根本或在根本上出现问题,就会走向衰亡

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us