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基础 (jī chǔ) — foundation, basis

Definition

基础 (jīchǔ) is a noun meaning 'foundation' — typically the base something is built on (skills, economy, plan). As a noun it contrasts with 基本 (adjective 'basic') and 根据 / 依据 (sources to base an argument on).

noun
foundationbasis

Examples

  • 基础。
    Xué xí yǔ yán yào dǎ hǎo jī chǔ.
    Learning a language requires building a good foundation.
  • 基础？
    Zhè ge jì huà de jī chǔ shì shén me?
    What is the basis of this plan?
  • 基础。
    Jīng jì jī chǔ duì fā zhǎn hěn zhòng yào.
    The economic foundation is very important for development.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

基jīfoundation
础chǔfoundation stone

基 and 础 both refer to foundation, so together they mean a base or foundation.

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.

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.

Open 基 →

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 礎; 础 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shístone
Sound part声符shēngfú
楚
楚chǔ礎chǔ
Same sound today

The traditional form 礎 pairs 石, meaning stone, with 楚 as a sound part, to write a stone base; the simplified 础 is a later shorthand.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Abstract Concepts5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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