Chinese word

底

Pronunciation

Pinyindǐ

Meaning

  • nounsole

Example

鞋子的底已经磨破了。xié zi de dǐ yǐ jīng mó pò le

The sole of the shoe is already worn through.

Illustration for 底 (sole)

More examples

我从心底支持你的决定。wǒ cóng xīn dǐ zhī chí nǐ de jué dìng

I support your decision from the bottom of my heart.

Core concept

The lowest supporting layer that holds something up or forms its underlying base.

Common phrases

  • 心底xīn dǐ

    bottom of one's heart

  • 根底gēn dǐ

    foundation

Similar words

下面xià miàn: The area or position underneath an object or place.
底部dǐ bù: The bottom section of an object or structure.
底层dǐ céng: The bottom layer or lowest level in a building or organization.
根底gēn dǐ: The basic foundation or underlying cause of something.

Definition in Chinese

表示物体、容器或空间的下侧或最低部分，常指起支撑或承载作用的底面，也可引申为事物的根本或基础。biǎo shì wù tǐ róng qì huò kōng jiān de xià cè huò zuì dī bù fèn cháng zhǐ qǐ zhī chēng huò chéng zài zuò yòng de dǐ miàn yě kě yǐn shēn wèi shì wù de gēn běn huò jī chǔ

Word origin

底 (dǐ, "bottom") is formed from 广 (guǎng, "shelter") + 氐 (dī, "base"), with 广 suggesting a covered place and 氐 supplying the sound as the character came to denote its lower base.

Usage tips

  • English often changes its noun according to the object, while Chinese keeps one core word for many kinds of supporting undersides, making the shared pattern useful in everyday compounds.

Other meanings

  • bottomnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 根底gēn dǐfoundationnoun
  • 底细dǐ xìinside storynoun

Word lists with this word