基
- foundation, base, groundwork;
Etymology
Formed as a phono-semantic compound:
土 (earth, soil) provides the semantic component, symbolizing ground or foundation.
其 (that, its; phonetic) provides the sound.
Originally referred to the base or lower part of an earthen wall, and by extension came to mean foundation, groundwork, basis in both physical and abstract senses.
Semantic range:
- foundation, base (터, 기초, 바탕);
- principle, fundamental (기본, 근본);
- starting point, groundwork;
- by extension, standard or model.
Usage in Korean
기초 (基礎) — foundation, groundwork
기본 (基本) — basis, essential
근기 (根基) — root, foundation
토대 (基地) — base, site, stronghold
공기 (攻基) — attacking the base (military term)
Words that derived from 基
- 기간(基幹)–backbone; mainstay
- 기대(基臺)–foundation
- 기독교(基督敎)–Christianity; Christian religion
- 기본(基本)–basics; prerequisite; essential; basic; fundamental
- 기준(基準)–standard; basis; criterion
- 메시아를 위한 기대(메시아를 위한 基臺)–the Foundation for the Messiah
- 믿음의 기대(믿음의 基臺)–foundation of faith
- 사위기대(四位基臺)–four position foundation
- 사탄 분립기대(사탄 分立基臺)–the foundation of having separated Satan
- 삼대상기준(三對象基準)–communion of three object partners
- 상대기대(相對基臺)–foundation for reciprocation
- 상대기준(相對基準)–common base
- 실체기대(實體基臺)–foundation of substance
Additional notes
In Confucian and philosophical discourse, 基 is often paired with 礎 (초, cornerstone) as 基礎, symbolizing the moral and intellectual groundwork of a person or society.
It is also widely used in modern contexts—science (genetics: 基因 “gene”), politics (基地 “base, stronghold”), and education (기초 학문 “basic studies”)—to emphasize that all advancement rests on solid foundations.
