基层 (jī céng) — grassroots level (lowest level of an organizati… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

基层 means the bottom tier of an organization or society — the level closest to ordinary people, not just a general 'foundation' (基础). Use 底层 for a physical bottom or lowest social rung; 下级 refers to a subordinate person or unit in a hierarchy.

noun

grassroots level (lowest level of an organization or society, where direct operations occur)basal layerbasement (geology, underlying rock formation)

Examples

基层。
Tā zài jī céng dān wèi gōng zuò le wǔ nián.
He worked in a grassroots unit for five years.
基层。
jī céng Gàn bù bì xū liǎo jiě qún zhòng de xū qiú.
Grassroots cadres must understand the needs of the masses.
基层。
Dì zhì xué jiā fēn xī le zhè piàn qū yù de jī céng jié gòu.
Geologists analyzed the basement structure of this area.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

基jīfoundation

“基” (foundation) specifies the lowest “层” (layer), meaning grassroots level.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

其土基

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

其

其qí基jī

Same sound today

The lower 土 means earth, and the upper 其 gives the sound; together they form the idea of a foundation of earth.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 層; 层 is its simplified writing.

尸曾層

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

曾

曾céng層céng

Same sound today

The traditional form 層 uses 尸 for the meaning and 曾 for the sound; the simplified 层 is a later abbreviation.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Society & Public Life

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