打基础 () — to lay the foundation (figurative, for learning, career, etc.); to do the spadework

Definition

Separable verb (离合词): 打 + 基础 means 'to lay the foundation' for future work or study — usually in the abstract sense of preparation, not building. Often inserts 了/过 or extends as 打…基础.

verb
to lay the foundation (figurative, for learning, career, etc.)to do the spadework

Examples

  • 打基础
    Xué yǔ yán yào xiān dá, bǎ yǔ fǎ xué hǎo.
    When learning a language, you first need to lay the foundation and study grammar well.
  • Tā dǎ le sān nián jī chǔ, zhōng yú chéng gōng le.
    He laid the foundation for three years and finally succeeded.
  • 打基础
    Zhè ge xiàng mù xū yào xiān dá, zài tán fā zhǎn.
    This project needs to lay the foundation first, then talk about development.

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