底子 (dǐzi): foundation

Measure Word

一个好底子 gè

Meanings

1 foundation
2 base
3 grounding
4 background

Characters

底

dǐ

bottom; foundation; base

子

zi

suffix

The base or foundation of something.

Examples

HSK 2

他的英语底子不错。

Tā de Yīngyǔ dǐzi búcuò.

His English foundation is good.

HSK 4

家底子薄，日子过得紧。

Jiādǐ zi báo, rìzi guò de jǐn.

The family's financial base is thin, so life is tight.

HSK 6

这个学生底子差，需要补课。

Zhège xuéshēng dǐzi chà, xūyào bǔkè.

This student has a weak foundation and needs extra tutoring.

Tips

usage

底子 is colloquial and refers to one's basic level, foundation, or financial situation. 底子好/差 (good/bad foundation) is very common. Compare with 基础, which is more formal.

Stroke Order

底 dǐ

子 zǐ

Related Words

底 dǐ HSK 4 #793

bottom; base; underside / background (of a picture, fabric, design) / foundation; underlying basis / draft; copy kept as record / end (of a year or month) / radix; base (mathematics)

垫底 diàndǐ HSK 7-9 #6,790

to come in last place; to be at the bottom / to serve as a base; to pad the bottom

底线 dǐxiàn HSK 7-9 #5,289

bottom line / baseline; minimum standard / boundary one refuses to cross

点子 diǎnzi HSK 7-9 #3,503

idea / notion / spot; dot

豆子 dòuzi HSK 7-9 #5,791

bean / pea

钉子 dīngzi HSK 7-9 #7,352

nail (metal fastener) / snag; obstacle (figurative)

毯子 tǎnzi HSK 7-9 #5,046

blanket / rug

管子 guǎnzi HSK 7-9 #5,052

tube / pipe / straw

金子 jīnzi HSK 7-9 #4,542

gold / gold nugget

狮子 shīzi HSK 7-9 #4,512

lion