基本上 (jīběnshang) · basically
基本上 (jīběnshang) means “basically; on the whole”. It is written with 3 characters: 基 (foundation) + 本 (measure word for books) + 上 (on). It is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 基本上 is built
The characters
基 jī · foundation
What 基 is made of
- 其qí — his
- 甘gān — sweet
- 卄niàn — twenty
- 二 — two strokes
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 八bā — eight
- 甘gān — sweet
- 土tǔ — earth
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 十 — ten
Origin hint: 土 gives the meaning, 其 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
本 běn · measure word for books
What 本 is made of
- 木mù — tree
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 八bā — eight
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
Origin hint: A tree 木 with its roots highlighted (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
上 shàng · on
What 上 is made of
- ⺊ — structural part
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
Origin hint: One stroke on top of another; compare 下 (below) (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
Questions about 基本上
What does 基本上 mean?
基本上 (jīběnshang) means “basically; on the whole”.
How do you pronounce 基本上?
基本上 is pronounced jīběnshang.
Which HSK level is 基本上?
基本上 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 3 (2021).
Related words
- 基本jīběnbasic
- 基础jīchǔfoundation
- 基地jīdìbase
- 基金jījīnfund
- 基因jīyīngene
- 本子běnzinotebook
- 课本kèběntextbook
- 笔记本bǐjìběnnotebook
- 本来běnláioriginally
- 本领běnlǐngskill
It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 21: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.