Meaning
基本 means 'basic' or 'fundamental' and refers to the essential or foundational aspects of something. It can function as an adjective modifying nouns (basic knowledge, basic skills) or as an adverb meaning 'basically' or 'essentially' when describing the nature of a situation.
Usage
As an adjective, 基本 commonly appears before nouns to describe fundamental elements (基本知识, 基本技能). As an adverb, it softens statements to mean 'basically' or 'more or less' (基本上 is even more common for this usage). It's widely used in both spoken and written Chinese across formal and informal contexts.
Examples
- 01我已经掌握了汉语的基本语法。.I have already mastered the basic grammar of Chinese.
- 02这个问题基本解决了。.This problem has basically been solved.
Characters
Common collocations
- 基本知识basic knowledge
- 基本技能basic skills
- 基本工资base salary
- 基本原则basic principles
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to foundations: 基 originally depicted an earthen foundation, while 本 shows the root of a tree. Together they emphasize the fundamental or essential nature of something.