礎 (chǔ) - foundation stone, cornerstone & basis, foundation

礎Tone 3

chǔ ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

礎 · chǔ

foundation stone, cornerstone;

basis, foundation;

the fundamental support or starting point for something.

foundation stone, cornerstonebasis, foundationthe fundamental support or starting point for something.

Usage highlights

foundation stonecornerstonebasic foundationeconomic foundationtheoretical foundationlay the foundation

Synonyms

  • 基— foundation, base
  • 础— foundation stone (simplified form)
  • 根基— root, foundation

Antonyms

  • 顶— top, peak
  • 末— end, tip

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The cornerstone of the building was laid (奠基).
  • This theory provides the foundation for modern physics (理论基础).
  • Practice is the foundation of skill (技能的基础).
  • They laid the groundwork for the project (为项目打下基础).

Collocations

  • foundation stone(礎石)
  • cornerstone(礎石)
  • basic foundation(基礎)
  • economic foundation(經濟基礎)
  • theoretical foundation(理論基礎)
  • lay the foundation(奠定基礎)

Idioms

  • Lay the foundation for future development(奠定基礎)
  • The cornerstone of success(成功的基石)
  • Build on a solid foundation(基礎牢固)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese architecture, the foundation stone (礎石) was crucial for structural integrity, symbolizing a solid start.
  • Metaphorically extended to mean the fundamental basis of knowledge, relationships, or systems.
  • Often used in educational and philosophical contexts to emphasize the importance of fundamentals.

FAQ