noun / morpheme HSK 4
base · foundation · radical (chemistry) · basic
Meaning
基 means 'foundation' or 'base' and is commonly used as a bound morpheme in compound words. It appears frequently in technical, scientific, and formal contexts to denote fundamental elements or foundational concepts.
Usage
基 rarely stands alone in modern Mandarin and typically appears in compounds like 基础 (foundation), 基本 (basic), or 基地 (base/headquarters). In chemistry, it refers to a base or radical. It carries a formal, somewhat technical register.
Examples
- 01学好语言需要打好基础。.To learn a language well, you need to build a solid foundation.
- 02这是最基本的要求。.This is the most basic requirement.
Measure words
- 个一个基地
Common collocations
- 基础知识basic knowledge
- 基本原则basic principles
- 军事基地military base
- 基因突变genetic mutation
Origin
The character combines 其 (qí, indicating sound) and 土 (earth radical), suggesting something built on earth or ground, hence 'foundation.'