底 means “bottom, base”

そこ · soko

Also: sole, depth, bottom price

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

そこ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

テイ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 4 · 8 strokes

The story

Under a roof (广), down at the base (氐) where everything rests: the very bottom. 底 is the bottom of a cup or the sea, 海底 the seabed, 徹底, reaching right to the bottom, is thoroughness, and 心の底から is "from the bottom of my heart."

Used in 底 (soko, bottom), 海底 (kaitei, seabed), and 徹底 (tettei, thoroughness)

More from Halls & Hidden Corners

• 宇 universe
• 奥 interior
• 殿 palace
• 隅 corner
• 囲 surround
• 裏 back
• 庫 storehouse

Learn 底 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.