底限 (dǐ xiàn) — lowest limit; minimum

Definition

Common variant of 底线 — the 'bottom line' you won't go below, in prices, safety, or negotiation. 底限 is written/formal, while 底线 is also used figuratively for moral limits.

noun
lowest limitminimum
Easily confused

Examples

  • 底限。
    Zhè shì wǒ men de jià gé dǐ xiàn.
    This is our price bottom line.
  • 底限。
    Tán pàn bù néng dī yú zhè ge dǐ xiàn.
    The negotiation cannot go below this minimum.
  • 底限。
    Ān quán dǐ xiàn bì xū yán gé zūn shǒu.
    The safety minimum must be strictly followed.

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
限xiànlimit

底 (bottom) and 限 (limit) combine to name the lowest limit.

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
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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⻖Written in full as阜fùmound
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn限xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

限 pairs ⻖ (mound, written 阜) with 艮 as a sound part; the mound side gives the sense of a boundary or limit.

Open 限 →

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