Based
Meaning: Admirable for being unapologetically oneself, especially when expressing unpopular or bold opinions.
Calling someone or something 'based' means you admire their authenticity and courage to go against the grain. It's the opposite of being influenced by what others think. Originally from internet culture, it can describe people, opinions, or actions that show genuine conviction.
Examples
- He quit his corporate job to become a woodworker. Based. 他辞掉了公司的工作去做木匠。真有态度。Dejó su trabajo en una empresa para hacerse carpintero. Un crack.彼は会社を辞めて木工職人になった。ブレてなくてかっこいい。그는 회사를 그만두고 목공예가가 됐다. 소신 있어서 멋있어.
- That was a based take — not many people would say that out loud. 那个观点很有骨气——没多少人敢大声说出来。Fue una opinión con mucha personalidad — no mucha gente diría eso en voz alta.あれは芯のある意見だった——なかなか口に出せることじゃない。그건 정말 소신 있는 의견이었어 — 많은 사람이 그걸 입 밖에 내지 못해.
- She donated her entire bonus to charity. Incredibly based. 她把全部奖金都捐给了慈善机构。太令人佩服了。Donó todo su bonus a la caridad. Increíblemente auténtico.彼女はボーナスを全額寄付した。めちゃくちゃかっこいい。그녀는 보너스 전액을 기부했다. 정말 대단해.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: internet, opinions, authenticity, social media
Tone: approving, admiring
✓ Do Say
- That's based.太有态度了。Eso es muy auténtico.それ、かっこいい。그거 소신 있다.
- Based opinion.有骨气的观点。Opinión con personalidad.芯のある意見だ。소신 있는 의견이야.
✗ Don't Say
- The term has been associated with various political communities online — in mainstream use, keep it about authenticity rather than specific ideologies这个词在网上与各种政治群体有关联——在日常使用中,保持其'真实'的含义,而不要与特定意识形态挂钩El término se ha asociado con varias comunidades políticas en internet — en el uso cotidiano, mejor centrarse en la autenticidad y no en ideologías concretasこの言葉はオンラインで様々な政治的コミュニティと結びつけられてきた——一般的に使う場合は、特定のイデオロギーではなく本物の姿勢という意味で使おう이 용어는 온라인의 다양한 정치적 커뮤니티와 연관되어 왔다 — 주류에서는 특정 이념보다 진정성에 초점을 맞추는 게 좋다
Origin & History
Coined by rapper Lil B 'The BasedGod' in the late 2000s, originally meaning being yourself without caring what others think. It was adopted by internet culture in the 2010s, spreading through Reddit and 4chan before becoming mainstream Gen Z vocabulary.
Cultural Context
Era: 2010s onwards
Generation: Gen Z, Millennials
Social background: Universal
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