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垫底 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
垫底diàndǐto put sth on the bottom; to eat sth to tide oneself over until mealtime; to lay the foundationHSK 7, v, 17 strokes, rank #6790, Very Hard
diàndǐ(dian4di3)dian di T4
  1. 1to put sth on the bottom
  2. 2to eat sth to tide oneself over until mealtime
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March 24, 2026

垫底diàndǐ(dian4di3)

垫底 (diàn dǐ) means to be at the bottom or to serve as a foundation in a particular context, often used metaphorically. Commonly, it refers to someone or something that ranks lowest in performance or quality, such as in a competition or among peers, emphasizing the idea of support or a base layer.

Strokes17Frequency#6790DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In competitive environments, such as education or sports, being labeled as 垫底 can carry significant social implications, reflecting the importance of success and status in Chinese society.

Memory tip

Imagine a mattress (垫, diàn) that you lay on top of a foundation (底, dǐ) in a bed. The mattress is soft and comfy, but without the hard bottom layer, it wouldn't be stable. This visual connects the characters to the meaning of being at the bottom or providing support.

Meanings of 垫底

diàndǐ(dian4di3)
1to put sth on the bottom
2to eat sth to tide oneself over until mealtime
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About 垫底

垫底Simplified
17Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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AI Study Notes for 垫底

Usage Notes

Be careful not to use 垫底 in overly formal contexts, as it can sound casual or derogatory when referring to someone's performance. It often collocates with terms like '成绩' (chéng jì, performance) or '排名' (pái míng, ranking). Misusing it can lead to misunderstandings about the level of criticism intended.

HSK Study Tips

Although 垫底 is not explicitly listed in the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other HSK words dealing with ranking or performance, like 排名 (pái míng). Students should focus on the context of usage to understand its nuances better.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 垫底 with similar words like '底部' (dǐ bù, bottom part), which does not carry the same metaphorical meaning. For example, saying '我在比赛中是底部' (wǒ zài bǐ sài zhōng shì dǐ bù) is incorrect; it should be '我在比赛中是垫底的' (wǒ zài bǐ sài zhōng shì diàn dǐ de).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 垫底

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Component Characters

垫diànpad
HSK 79 strokes土
View full entry
底de(equivalent to 的 as possessive particle)
HSK 48 strokes广
View full entry

How to say to put sth on the bottom in Chinese

“to put sth on the bottom” in Chinese is垫底diàndǐ

垫底 (diàn dǐ) means to be at the bottom or to serve as a foundation in a particular context, often used metaphorically. Commonly, it refers to someone or something that ranks lowest in performance or quality, such as in a competition or among peers, emphasizing the idea of support or a base layer.

When to use 垫底

Be careful not to use 垫底 in overly formal contexts, as it can sound casual or derogatory when referring to someone's performance. It often collocates with terms like '成绩' (chéng jì, performance) or '排名' (pái míng, ranking). Misusing it can lead to misunderstandings about the level of criticism intended.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 垫底 with similar words like '底部' (dǐ bù, bottom part), which does not carry the same metaphorical meaning. For example, saying '我在比赛中是底部' (wǒ zài bǐ sài zhōng shì dǐ bù) is incorrect; it should be '我在比赛中是垫底的' (wǒ zài bǐ sài zhōng shì diàn dǐ de).

Write 垫底

垫
底

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Frequently Asked Questions about 垫底

It typically refers to the person or team that ranks lowest or performs the worst in a competitive setting.

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