The word "草根" is formed by combining the character 草 (cǎo), meaning "grass", with 根 (gēn), meaning "root", to create a compound noun that literally translates to "grass roots". This literal meaning is then applied metaphorically to denote the common populace or the grassroots level of society, deriving its conceptual sense from the idea of something fundamental, widespread, and at the base, much like the roots of grass.