基本功

• Pinyin: jī běn gōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 基 = 其 + 土 (foundation stone); 本 = 木 + 一 (tree with root mark, fundamental); 功 = 工 + 力 (work + strength)

Meaning

Basic skills; foundational abilities that form the core of a craft or discipline. Mastery of fundamentals that enables advanced performance.

Used in martial arts, music, sport, language learning, and professional training. Emphasises that advanced achievement is built on solid fundamentals. Common in educational and motivational contexts.

Examples

1. 没有扎实的基本功，再聪明的学生也难以在专业领域有所突破。 Without solid fundamentals, even the smartest students struggle to make a real breakthrough in their field.
2. 练书法最重要的是先把基本功打好，笔画结构都要严格规范。 The most important thing in practicing calligraphy is to build strong basics first—every stroke and structure has to meet strict standards.
3. 这位年轻演员台词功底扎实，出色的表演基本功令导演印象深刻。 This young actor has a strong command of lines, and his excellent acting fundamentals left a deep impression on the director.

Usage Guide

Context: education, training, arts, sports

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 舞蹈演员需要从小刻苦训练，打好基本功才能在舞台上展现出色的艺术表现力。(Dance performers need to train diligently from a young age and build solid fundamentals before they can demonstrate excellent artistic expressiveness on stage.)
• 无论从事哪个行业，扎实的基本功都是走向卓越、实现突破的必要基础条件。(Regardless of the industry, solid fundamental skills are a necessary foundation for moving toward excellence and achieving breakthroughs.)

Don't Say

• 这个工作需要一些基本功 — 一些 weakens the emphasis; in formal or serious contexts use 扎实的基本功 or 过硬的基本功 for stronger impact

Origin & History

基 (foundation/base) + 本 (root/fundamental) + 功 (skill/achievement)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal