根据
gēnjù · HSK 4
according to
📋 根 = root + 据 = evidence; 'on the root-evidence of' = according to
根 means root/basis and 据 means evidence/grounds. Together 根据 literally reads as 'root-evidence', meaning the foundation something rests on — hence 'on the basis of' or 'according to'.
根 — tree radical 木 + 艮 (phonetic)
根 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The left side 木 ('tree') gives the meaning, since the character originally referred to the roots of a tree. The right side 艮 supplies the sound. From 'tree root' it extended to mean 'root, base, foundation' in general.
据 — hand radical 扌 + 豦
据 combines the hand radical 扌 with the phonetic component 豦. Originally meaning to seize or grasp with the hand, it later extended to 'rely on' or 'according to.' In modern simplified Chinese, 据 also serves as the simplified form of 據, merging the two characters' meanings.