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柢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
柢dǐroot, baseg, 9 strokes, radical 木
柢dǐfoundationunknown, 9 strokes, radical 木
dǐ(di3)di T3
  1. 1root, base
  2. 2foundation
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March 24, 2026

柢dǐ(di3)

The character 柢 (dǐ) refers to the root or base of a plant, symbolizing the foundational support of something. It can also represent the underlying principle or basis of an idea or concept, often used in academic or philosophical discussions.

Strokes9Radical木
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese medicine, understanding the 'root' of a problem is crucial for diagnosis and treatment, reflecting the significance of the concept of roots in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a deep-rooted tree, the roots (柢) holding it firmly in the ground. The character has a tree radical (木) on the left, suggesting its connection to nature, and the right side (底) hints at the base or foundation.

Meanings of 柢

dǐ(di3)
1root, base
2foundation
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 柢

柢Simplified
9Strokes
木Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 柢

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Podcast: 柢

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AI study notes for 柢

Usage Notes

柢 is often used in more formal contexts or academic discussions, so avoid using it in casual conversation. It's commonly found in phrases related to foundational concepts, such as '基础柢' (fundamental basis). Be careful with tones; using the wrong tone could change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 柢 is not in the HSK levels, it shares roots with other characters like 基 (jī, foundation) and 根 (gēn, root). Focus on recognizing its components and meanings to connect it with other foundational vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 柢 with 根 (gēn), mistakenly using 柢 to refer to physical roots in casual contexts. Remember, 柢 is more abstract, referring to foundational concepts rather than literal roots.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 柢

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Jason Explains 柢 to you

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Etymology of 柢

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

tree

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)氐
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

柢 = 木 + 氐. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 柢

IDS Structure⿰木氐
柢Full character
=
木Mu4
left
氐Di1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 柢?

How to say root, base in Chinese

“root, base” in Chinese is柢dǐ

The character 柢 (dǐ) refers to the root or base of a plant, symbolizing the foundational support of something. It can also represent the underlying principle or basis of an idea or concept, often used in academic or philosophical discussions.

When to use 柢

柢 is often used in more formal contexts or academic discussions, so avoid using it in casual conversation. It's commonly found in phrases related to foundational concepts, such as '基础柢' (fundamental basis). Be careful with tones; using the wrong tone could change the meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 柢 with 根 (gēn), mistakenly using 柢 to refer to physical roots in casual contexts. Remember, 柢 is more abstract, referring to foundational concepts rather than literal roots.

Write 柢

柢

Practice writing 柢 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 柢

Words containing this character2
柢dǐroot
归根结柢ultimately歸根結柢
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 柢

What does 归根结柢 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 柢

No, 柢 is more frequently found in formal writing or academic contexts.

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