Meaning and Usage
"根基" (gēnjī) literally means "root and foundation." It is commonly used to describe the fundamental basis or groundwork of something, whether abstract like knowledge or concrete like a building's foundation.
Common Contexts
It often appears in educational, business, and architectural contexts to emphasize the importance of a strong base for success or stability.
Collocations and Patterns
- 根基牢固: solid foundation, used to describe stability or reliability.
- 建筑根基: building foundation, referring to the physical base of a structure.
- 学习的根基: foundation of learning, referring to essential knowledge or skills.
Usage Notes
When using 根基, speakers imply something essential and foundational that supports further development. It is more formal and literary than simply saying "基础" (jīchǔ), which also means foundation but is more general and common in everyday speech.
Avoid confusing 根基 with 根本 (gēnběn), which means "fundamental" or "basic" but is often used as an adverb or adjective rather than a noun.