基 jī — base; foundation; basic; radical (chem.)
学好基础知识很重要。Xué hǎo jī chǔ zhī shi hěn zhòng yào.It is important to master the basic knowledge.
Common words: 基本 (jī běn)、基础 (jī chǔ)、基本上 (jī běn shang)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "basic"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "basic", including 基 (jī), 初 (chū). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words, and examples.
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "basic" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 基 (jī), 初 (chū) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span jī, chū — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 基 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 基 jībase; foundation; basic; radical (chem.)Useful words: 基本, 基础
- 初 chūat first; (at the) beginning; first; junior; basicUseful words: 当初, 初步
Common words for these 2 "basic" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 基 (jī) — so "basic" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "basic".
初 chū — at first; (at the) beginning; first; junior; basic
春天初到，花儿刚刚开放。Chūn tiān chū dào, huā ér gāng gāng kāi fàng.Early spring has just arrived, and the flowers have just bloomed.
Common words: 当初 (dāng chū)、初步 (chū bù)、初中 (chū zhōng)
All 2 characters
Open 基、初 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.