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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) T3
  1. 1root, base
  2. 2foundation
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 柢

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

Podcast: 柢

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Podcast: 柢

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

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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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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 柢

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half氐 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaytree
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 柢? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 柢?

Decomposition of 柢

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

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component 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.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 柢

Words Containing This Character2
柢dǐroot
归根结柢ultimately歸根結柢
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 柢 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 柢

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

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 柢?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.