奠基

diànjī

verb #31,672

Meanings

1 to lay a foundation
2 to inaugurate (a building)
3 to establish the groundwork

Characters

to establish / make offerings

foundation / base

Examples

HSK 3

市长亲自为新医院奠基。

Shìzhǎng qīnzì wèi xīn yīyuàn diànjī.

The mayor personally laid the foundation stone for the new hospital.

HSK 4

鲁迅为中国现代文学奠基。

Lǔ Xùn wèi Zhōngguó xiàndài wénxué diànjī.

Lu Xun laid the foundation of modern Chinese literature.

Tips

usage

Two senses, equally common: (1) literal - the ceremony of laying the cornerstone of a new building (奠基仪式 'foundation-laying ceremony'); (2) figurative - being the founding figure of a discipline, movement, or institution (奠基人 'founding father', 奠基之作 'foundational work').

Stroke Order

奠 diàn

基 jī