底座 (dǐ zuò) — base, pedestal, foundation

Definition

noun

basepedestalfoundation

Measure word · 个

Examples

底座。
Zhè ge diāo xiàng de dǐ zuò shì yòng dà lǐ shí zuò de.
The base of this statue is made of marble.
底座。
Jī qì dǐ zuò bì xū gù dìng láo gù.
The machine base must be firmly secured.
底座，。
Huā píng de dǐ zuò hěn wěn, bú huì dǎo.
The vase's pedestal is very stable and won't tip over.

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.

底dǐbottom

座zuòpedestal

The sense of 底 as bottom combines with 座 as pedestal to mean a supporting base.

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.

广氐底

Meaning part形符xíngfú

广广guǎngbuilding

Sound part声符shēngfú

氐

氐dī底dǐ

Same sound today

底 pairs 广 (building) with 氐, pointing to the bottom or foundation of a building. Some read 氐 as a bowing figure or tree root, adding a sense of 'down'.

Open 底 →

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

广坐座

Meaning part形符xíngfú

广广guǎnghouse on cliff

Sound part声符shēngfú

坐

坐zuò座zuò

Same sound today

座 pairs 广, a house on a cliff, with 坐 to give the sound.

Open 座 →

Appears in