底气 (dǐ qì) — lung power; stamina (in breathing or vocal projection); confidence; inner strength (based on concrete advantage or preparation)

Definition

底气 is the confidence or courage that comes from a real advantage — skills, resources, or preparation. Distinguish from abstract self-assurance: this one is grounded in something concrete you can point to.

noun
lung powerstamina (in breathing or vocal projection)confidenceinner strength (based on concrete advantage or preparation)

Examples

  • 底气，。
    Tā chàng gē dǐ qì hěn zú, néng yì kǒu qì chàng wán zhěng shǒu gē.
    He has great lung power when singing and can finish a whole song in one breath.
  • ，底气。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī yǒu zhèng fǔ zhī chí, tán pàn shí hěn yǒu dǐ qì.
    This company has government backing, so it has strong confidence in negotiations.
  • 底气，。
    Tā shuō huà dǐ qì bù zú, yí kàn jiù zhī dào zài sā huǎng.
    He spoke with little confidence — you could tell he was lying at a glance.

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
气qìbreath

The 底 breath is the inner strength behind confidence.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →

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