(shuō, ㄕㄨㄛ) to speak; to say; a theory (usually in compounds such as 日心说 heliocentric theory) [CE-DICT]
根
(こん) (n) (1) stick-to-itiveness; perseverance; persistence; (2) (See 基・き・1) radical (esp. one that tends to ionize easily); (3) {math} root; (4) {Buddh} indriya (faculty of the body having a specific function, i.e. the sensory organs) [EDICT]
(ね) (n) (1) root (of a plant); (2) root (of a tooth, hair, etc.); center (of a pimple, etc.); (3) root root (of all evil, etc.); source; origin; cause; basis; (4) one's true nature; (5) (fishing) reef; (P) [EDICT]
(gēn, ㄍㄣ) radical (chem.); root; basis; classifier for long slender objects, e.g. cigarettes, guitar strings [CE-DICT]
本
(ほん) (n) (1) (See ご本・ごほん) book; volume; (pref) (2) main; head; this; our; present; real; (ctr) (3) counter for long cylindrical things; counter for films, TV shows, etc.; counter for goals, home runs, etc.; (P) [EDICT]
(běn, ㄅㄣˇ) roots or stems of plants; origin; source; this; the current; root; foundation; basis; (classifier for books, periodicals, files etc) [CE-DICT]