Respiration of fine roots (Rfr) plays a major role in belowground carbon cycles, but the relationships between Rfr and biotic and abiotic factors during plant dormancy remain unclear. We used a standard chamber equipped with an infrared gas analyzer and configured as an open system to measure Rfr of intact roots (<2 mm) of Caragana korshinskii in situ in November 2013. Rates of Rfr in C.korshinskii were closely related to root morphological traits, including mean root diameter (Dfr, mm), specific root length (SRL, root length per unit root mass, m g−1), and root tissue density (RTD, root mass per unit root volume, g cm−3). During dormancy of C.korshinskii, smaller‐diameter fine roots had higher respiration rates than larger diameter fine roots, and Rfr increased with increasing SRL and decreasing RTD. Meanwhile, Rfr rates increased exponentially with increasing root temperature. Soil temperature (especially in the subsoil layer) did not play a role in controlling changes in Rfr. The results indicated that changes in root temperature and Dfr were likely to determine rates of Rfr in C.korshinskii during dormancy. Our results highlight the importance of assessing carbon loss from fine roots during the dormant period.