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礎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
礎chǔfoundation stone, plinth; basisx, 18 strokes, radical 石
chǔ(chu3)chu T3
  1. 1foundation stone, plinth; basis
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March 24, 2026

礎chǔ(chu3)

The character 礎 (chǔ) refers to a foundation stone or plinth, symbolizing the base upon which structures are built. It is commonly used in contexts discussing architecture, construction, and metaphorically to describe foundational concepts or principles in various fields, such as philosophy or education.

Strokes18Radical石
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of a strong foundation is crucial, often reflected in architecture, where the foundation is believed to influence the stability and fortune of a building.

Memory tip

Imagine a sturdy stone (礎) that forms the base of a large building, holding everything up. Visualize this stone as a 'charming' (sounds like 'chǔ') foundation, reminding you that without a solid base, nothing can stand tall.

Meanings of 礎

chǔ(chu3)
1foundation stone, plinth; basis
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 礎

礎Simplified
18Strokes
石Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 礎

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Podcast: 礎

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AI study notes for 礎

Usage Notes

When using 礎, it is important to pair it with terms that indicate structural or conceptual foundations, such as 理论 (lǐlùn - theory) or 知识 (zhīshì - knowledge). Avoid using it in casual conversations as it carries a more formal or technical tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 礎 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be connected to other foundational terms such as 基础 (jīchǔ - foundation) and 根基 (gēnjī - root base). Focus on understanding its usage in formal contexts to grasp its significance.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 礎 with 基础 (jīchǔ) and use it interchangeably in casual contexts; however, 礎 is more formal and specific. For example, saying '这是我的理论的礎' (This is the foundation of my theory) is accurate, but avoid using it casually.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 礎

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Etymology of 礎

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

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 出 represents the sound. Simplified form of 礎.

Memory hint

stone

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

Origin

礎 = 石 + 楚. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 礎

IDS Structure⿰石楚
礎Full character
=
石dan4
left
楚Chu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 礎?

How to say foundation stone, plinth; basis in Chinese

“foundation stone, plinth; basis” in Chinese is礎chǔ

The character 礎 (chǔ) refers to a foundation stone or plinth, symbolizing the base upon which structures are built. It is commonly used in contexts discussing architecture, construction, and metaphorically to describe foundational concepts or principles in various fields, such as philosophy or education.

When to use 礎

When using 礎, it is important to pair it with terms that indicate structural or conceptual foundations, such as 理论 (lǐlùn - theory) or 知识 (zhīshì - knowledge). Avoid using it in casual conversations as it carries a more formal or technical tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 礎 with 基础 (jīchǔ) and use it interchangeably in casual contexts; however, 礎 is more formal and specific. For example, saying '这是我的理论的礎' (This is the foundation of my theory) is accurate, but avoid using it casually.

Write 礎

礎

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

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Word Family of 礎

Words containing this character3
基础jīchǔbase基礎
础chǔbase礎
基础课basic course基礎課
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 礎

What does 基础 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 礎

You can use 礎 in a sentence like '理论是知识的基础' (The theory is the foundation of knowledge), where 礎 emphasizes the foundational aspect.

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