📖 Meaning
This idiom means to interrogate and investigate a matter down to its very root and bottom. It describes someone who thoroughly questions and traces the full origins of an event or issue. It conveys a meticulous, relentless attitude toward uncovering the truth.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom traces back to the Qing dynasty novel 'Jinghuayuan' (镜花缘) by Li Ruzhen, where Lin Zhiyang, though well-traveled abroad, lacks deep knowledge and is closely questioned by Xiao Shan until his store of anecdotes is exhausted. The phrase vividly captures the image of tracing every root and probing every bottom to get to the truth. Over time it became a common expression for relentless investigation into the origins of a matter.
💡 Example Usage
他对这件事总要盘根究底，不弄清楚决不罢休。
He always interrogates matters to the very bottom, refusing to rest until everything is made clear.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 盘根究底
- Pinyin: pán gēn jiū dǐ
- Literal Translation: 盘 (interrogate) 根 (root) 究 (investigate) 底 (bottom)
- Category: Logic
- Characters: 4