追本溯源 trace the source
Explanation
追本溯源的意思是追究根本，探索源头，比喻追寻根源。
The idiom "trace the source" means to investigate the root cause and explore the source, which is a metaphor for tracing the source.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，一位名叫李白的诗人，在创作诗歌时，总是追求诗歌的意境和内涵的完美表达。一次，他在游览名山大川时，突发奇想，想创作一首描写名山大川的诗歌。他遍访名山大川，查阅大量的古籍典故，探寻名山大川的传说和故事，从远古时期一直追溯到现代，对名山大川的历史、文化、地理位置等方面进行深入研究。经过长时间的探寻和研究，他终于创作出了一首气势磅礴、意境深远的诗歌，这首诗歌不但描写了名山大川的壮丽景色，还展现了名山大川的历史文化内涵，读来让人回味无穷。
In the Tang Dynasty, there was a poet named Li Bai who always pursued the perfect expression of the mood and connotation of his poems. Once, when he was touring famous mountains and rivers, he suddenly had the idea to create a poem describing the famous mountains and rivers. He visited many famous mountains and rivers, consulted a large number of ancient books, explored the legends and stories of famous mountains and rivers, traced from ancient times to modern times, and conducted in-depth research on the history, culture, and geographical location of famous mountains and rivers. After a long period of exploration and research, he finally created a magnificent and profound poem, which not only described the magnificent scenery of the famous mountains and rivers but also displayed the historical and cultural connotations of the famous mountains and rivers, leaving people with endless aftertaste.
Usage
追本溯源通常用作谓语、宾语或状语，表示探究事情的根源。
"Trace the source" is usually used as a predicate, object or adverbial, indicating the exploration of the root cause of things.
Examples
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为了弄清楚事情的来龙去脉，我们必须追本溯源。
wèile nòng qīngchu shìqing de lái lóng mài mò, wǒmen bìxū zhuī běn sù yuán
To find out the ins and outs of the matter, we must trace the source.
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研究这个问题，必须追本溯源，才能找到解决的办法。
yánjiū zhège wèntí, bìxū zhuī běn sù yuán, cáinéng zhǎodào jiějué de bànfǎ
To study this problem, we must trace its source in order to find a solution.