基 jī foundation
foundation; base
How to remember 基: 其 this or that + 土 earth = foundation. The builders argue over this or that spot until the boss stamps on the hard earth and says "Here goes the foundation."
Component breakdown
基 = 其 this or that + 土 earth
- 其 this or that
- 土 earth
The builders argue over this or that spot until the boss stamps on the hard earth and says "Here goes the foundation."
How it is used
- A bound morpheme for 'base/foundation', both literal and abstract; almost never stands alone. Core words: 基础 (jīchǔ) foundation/basis and 基本 (jīběn) basic.
- 基本上 (jīběnshàng) is a high-frequency spoken hedge meaning 'basically, more or less' - 基本上都完成了 (jīběnshàng dōu wánchéng le) it's basically all done.
- Also the 'ji-' in loan/technical terms: 基因 (jīyīn) gene, 基金 (jījīn) fund, 基地 (jīdì) base.
Words with 基
- 基本jīběnbasicHSK 4
- 基本上jīběnshàngbasicallyHSK 4
- 基础jīchǔbaseHSK 4
- 基因jīyīngene (loanword)HSK 6
- 基地jīdìal-QaedaHSK 6
- 基金jījīnfundHSK 6
- 基于jīyúbecause ofHSK 7
- 基准jīzhǔndatumHSK 7
- 基层jīcéngbasic levelHSK 7
- 基建jījiàncapital construction (project)HSK 7
- 基本功jīběngōngbasic skillsHSK 7
- 基金会jījīnhuìfoundationHSK 7
- 根基gēnjīfoundationHSK 7
Example sentences
- 我们从基础开始学习。 Wǒmen cóng jīchǔ kāishǐ xuéxí.We'll begin our studies with the basics.