Chinese word

底线

Pronunciation

Pinyindǐ xiàn

Meaning

  • nounbottom line

Example

这次的结果还没达到我的底线。zhè cì de jié guǒ hái méi dá dào wǒ de dǐ xiàn

This result still hasn't reached my bottom line.

Illustration for 底线 (bottom line)

More examples

在谈判中，我们不能轻易放低底线。zài tán pàn zhōng wǒ men bù néng qīng yì fàng dī dǐ xiàn

In negotiations, we cannot casually lower our bottom line.

Core concept

A floor marking how far personal feelings, treatment, or principles can be pushed before acceptance stops.

Common phrases

  • 突破底线tū pò dǐ xiàn

    violate the bottom line

  • 触碰底线chù pèng dǐ xiàn

    touch the bottom line

  • 放低底线fàng dī dǐ xiàn

    lower the bottom line

Similar words

红线hóng xiàn: A strict boundary beyond which action is considered unacceptable.
界限jiè xiàn: The point that separates one area of action or a relationship from another.
限度xiàn dù: The limit of how much or how far something can go.
容忍度róng rěn dù: A measure of how much a person can endure or accept.

Definition in Chinese

个人在情感、待遇或原则上能够容忍的最小程度，低于此就会表示反对或断绝关系。gè rén zài qíng gǎn dài yù huò yuán zé shàng néng gòu róng rěn de zuì xiǎo chéng dù dī yú cǐ jiù huì biǎo shì fǎn duì huò duàn jué guān xì

Word origin

The compound 底线 (dǐxiàn, "bottom line") joins 底 (dǐ, "bottom") and 线 (xiàn, "line") to picture the lowest boundary that still permits acceptance.

Usage tips

  • A numeric threshold is usually stated with a number, whereas this word commonly expresses a speaker's personal standard in talk about work, relationships, and principles.

Other meanings

  • limitnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 底线思维dǐ xiàn sī wéibottom-line thinkingnoun
  • 底线原则dǐ xiàn yuán zébottom-line principlenoun
  • 底线意识dǐ xiàn yì shíbottom-line awarenessnoun

Word lists with this word