Chinese word

垫底

Pronunciation

Pinyindiàn dǐ

Meaning

  • verbbe in last place

Example

这支队现在垫底，很难翻身。zhè zhī duì xiàn zài diàn dǐ hěn nán fān shēn

This team is in last place now, and it is hard to turn things around.

Illustration for 垫底 (be in last place)

More examples

本学期他的考试垫底，感到很失望。běn xué qī tā de kǎo shì diàn dǐ gǎn dào hěn shī wàng

He was last in his exams this semester and felt very disappointed.

Core concept

A competitor or team occupies the bottom position of a ranking, with every other entry above it.

Common phrases

  • 成绩垫底chéng jì diàn dǐ

    come last in grades

  • 名次垫底míng cì diàn dǐ

    be ranked last

  • 连续垫底lián xù diàn dǐ

    be last several times in a row

Similar words

位居末位wèi jū mò wèi: Occupy the last position in a ranking or competition.
名列末位míng liè mò wèi: Be listed in the final position of a ranking or list.

Definition in Chinese

用来表示在某个排名、比赛或统计中处于最末位，未能超过其他所有对手。yòng lái biǎo shì zài mǒu gè pái míng bǐ sài huò tǒng jì zhōng chǔ yú zuì mò wèi wèi néng chāo guò qí tā suó yǒu duì shǒu

Word origin

垫 (diàn, "pad") + 底 (dǐ, "bottom") creates the image of something placed at the lowest base, which extends naturally to the bottom of a ranking.

Usage tips

  • Chinese can use this verb directly after a team or player name to state a ranking result, without an extra linking verb.

Other meanings

  • come lastverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word