础 (chǔ) - foundation, base & cornerstone

础Tone 3

chǔ ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

础 · chǔ

foundation, base;

cornerstone;

the base or plinth of a pillar;

fundamental element

foundation, basecornerstonethe base or plinth of a pillar

Usage highlights

foundation stonebasic knowledgeeconomic basetheoretical foundationmaterial basisindustrial base

Synonyms

  • 基— foundation, base
  • 底— bottom, foundation
  • 根— root, foundation

Antonyms

  • 顶— top, peak
  • 尖— tip, apex

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The cornerstone of the building was laid (奠基).
  • Basic knowledge is fundamental (基础知识).
  • This forms the foundation of our theory (理论基础).
  • Economic foundation (经济基础) determines the superstructure.

Collocations

  • foundation stone(础石)
  • basic knowledge(基础知识)
  • economic base(经济基础)
  • theoretical foundation(理论基础)
  • material basis(物质基础)
  • industrial base(工业基础)

Idioms

  • Foundation for future development(础润而雨)
  • Lay the foundation(奠定基础)
  • Solid foundation(坚实基础)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese architecture, 础 refers to the stone base supporting wooden pillars, protecting them from moisture and decay.
  • Metaphorically extended to mean the fundamental basis or prerequisite for anything, reflecting the importance of solid foundations in Chinese philosophy.
  • Often used in educational and developmental contexts to emphasize the importance of basic knowledge and infrastructure.

FAQ