归根结底 Ultimately
Explanation
指追究事情的根本原因。
To trace the root cause of something.
Origin Story
从前，有个村庄闹起了怪病。村民们纷纷求医问药，但始终找不到病因。一位老中医来到村庄，仔细询问了村民的饮食起居，又检查了村庄的水源和土壤。经过多日的观察和研究，老中医发现，原来是村庄附近的一条小河受到了污染，河水中的有害物质通过食物链进入村民的身体，导致了这场怪病。村民们恍然大悟，立即采取措施治理污染，最终战胜了怪病。这个故事告诉我们，解决问题要找到问题的根本原因，只有这样才能彻底解决问题。归根结底，解决问题的关键在于找到问题的源头。
Once upon a time, a village was struck by a strange illness. Villagers sought medical treatment, but could not find the cause of the disease. An old doctor came to the village, carefully inquired about the villagers' diet and daily life, and examined the village's water sources and soil. After many days of observation and research, the old doctor found that a nearby river was polluted, and harmful substances in the river water entered the villagers' bodies through the food chain, causing the strange disease. The villagers suddenly realized, immediately took measures to control pollution, and finally defeated the disease. This story tells us that to solve a problem, we must find its root cause, only then can we solve the problem completely. Ultimately, the key to solving the problem lies in finding the root cause.
Usage
用作状语；表示事情的根本原因。
Used as an adverb; indicates the fundamental reason for something.
Examples
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归根结底，这都是因为他的粗心大意。
gui gen jie di, zhe dou shi yinwei ta de cuxin da yi
Ultimately, it's all because of his carelessness.
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这件事归根结底还是管理制度的问题。
zhe jianshi gui gen jie di haishi guanli zhidu de wenti
Ultimately, this is still a problem of the management system.