How to Write 柢 (dǐ) — Meaning “root or foundation”

Imagine a tree (木) standing on a solid base (氐) that holds its roots deep in the ground. The right side 氐 looks like a person bending down to touch the ground, which reminds you of the idea of a foundation. This visual helps you link the shape to the meaning 'root'.

Write the left radical 木 first (horizontal, vertical, left-falling, right-falling), then the right part 氐 starting with a dot at the top. A common mistake is making the 氐 too wide or confusing its bottom strokes—the final stroke is a horizontal line, not a hook. Keep both sides balanced: the left side should be slightly narrower than the right.

柢 uses the right component 氐, while 杆 uses 干 (a pole or dry) and 杈 uses 叉 (a fork). Visually, 柢 has a dot on top of the right part, whereas 杆 has a simple vertical line and 杈 has an X-like shape. In meaning, 柢 refers to a root or foundation, but 杆 means a pole and 杈 means a fork in a tree.

柢 is mainly found in formal or literary words like 根柢 (foundation) and idioms such as 寻根究柢 (to get to the root of a matter). It is not used in everyday conversation but appears in writing about deep analysis or solid foundations. Culturally, the character emphasizes the importance of having a strong base in learning or character.

Common words containing 柢 include: 根柢 (gēn dǐ) — Foundation; Root; 寻根究柢 (xún gēn jiū dǐ) — To get to the root of the matter.; 固柢 (gù dǐ) — Firm foundation.