Correct

基本 vs 根本

/ jīběn vs gēnběn /
Strokes

Formula

1
根本上
2
基本上
3
从根本上
4
基本方法
5
基本思路
6
基本数字
7
基本资料
8
根本出路
9
根本命脉

Definition

基本 as an Adjective, 根本 as an Adjective or Noun, which both means [basic; fundamental].

Example

基本 and 根本, both words can be used to indicate the most important part or source of sth.
根本 means "completely, thoroughly, from beginning to end"; while 基本 means "roughly, on the whole".
根本上 基本上 从根本上
1
Zhège
这个
chéngshì
城市
de
néngyuán
能源
wèn
问题
jīng
已经
gēnběn
根本
jiějué
解决
le
  

The energy problem of this city has been completely solved.

2
Zhège
这个
chéngshì
城市
de
néngyuán
能源
wèn
问题
suīrán
虽然
běn
基本
jiějué
解决
le
  
,
dàn
háiyǒu
还有
shǎo
不少
gōngzuò
工作
yào
zuò
  

Generally speaking,the energy problem of this city has been solved;however,there is still a lot to be done.

根本, as an adverbial, also means "simply, from beginning to end, mostly in the negative". 基本 cannot be used in such a way.


4)As an attributive,基本 means"the minimal and the elementary",while 根本 means"the principle,prerequisite",therefore they are used in different collocations,e.g.
5)Some words and phrases can be qualified by either word,e.g.
3
gēnběn
根本
méi
dòu
guò
xué
大学
  

He has never been at college.

4
gēnběn
根本
jiù
zànchéng
赞成
zhèyàng
这样
zuò
  

I didn't approve you at all.

As an attributive, 基本 means "the minimal and the elementary", while 根本 means" the principle, prerequisite", therefore they are used in different collocations.
基本方法 基本思路 基本数字 基本资料 根本出路 根本命脉
5
Zhè
shì
xué
学习
běn
chéng
课程
de
běn
基本
cānkǎoshū
参考书
  
,
必须
rènzhēn
认真
yuè
阅读
  

You'd better read the book earnestly, for it is the main reference book of the course.

6
Gǎibiàn
改变
jīngyíng
经营
xiǎng
思想
  
,
shēngchǎn
生产
shìxiāoduì
适销对路
de
chǎnpǐn
产品
  
,
shì
men
我们
zhège
这个
chǎng
de
gēnběn
根本
chū
出路
  

The only way out for our factory is to change our managing idea and to produce products fulfilling the social needs.

根本, as a noun, means "the essential and the crux of sth."
7
Shuǐ
  
féi
  
rǎng
土壤
  
,
shì
nóng
农业
de
gēnběn
根本
  

The essentials for agriculture are water, fertilizer, and soil.