底 - Let's get to the bottom of 'soko' (Pt.1 - Definitions)

       My first post spotlights 'soko', the Japanese word for "bottom." This might seem like an odd selection to begin a kanji study project, but I think it serves symbolically as a great starting line for a lengthy race. My goal with this project is to get to the "bottom" of kanji, to comprehensively highlight each character's meanings, usages, and history. As you'll see with 'soko', a kanji can function grammatically as multiple parts of speech, with a rich variety of meanings.

       I'm also undertaking this project to make more kanji information accessible in English. After studying this material for so long (10+ years), I realize how difficult it can be to find reliable kanji information online that is translated for an English-speaking audience. And with rising prices, it's becoming more and more expensive to purchase dictionaries from Japan.

       Part 1 of this lesson will provide a comprehensive look at definitions — with both Japanese and English transcriptions — and is categorized by parts of speech (noun, verb, etc). I will also post a part 2 and 3 which will cover roughly 20 vocabulary words, as well as the appearance of this kanji in Chinese philosophy, poetry, and thought.

       Feel free to leave any thoughts or questions in the comments, and I hope you learn something new and interesting from this first chapter of my passion project. Happy studying, friends!

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底　「そこ」「テイ」

名詞：

⒈　そこ。

a . 物の最下部。

b . 下方。した。

c . 果て。最もきわまった部分。 

２．内側。なか。

３．根源。

４．草稿。《宋代、公文書の下書きを中書省では「草」、枢密院では「底」といった。》

５．何かの色や形を引き立て、きわだたせる下地。

６．といし。通：砥。 

動詞：

１．達する。いたる。

２．ふさがる。停滞する。とどまる。とどこおる。

３．鍛練する。とぐ。みがく。

代名詞：

１．なに。《事物を問うことば》

a . どのようなこと。

b . なんの。どんな。

２．これ。この。

３．もの。こと。《動詞や形容詞、また句を受けて、人や事物を表す》　

副詞： 

１．なんと。なんぞ。《程度の強さに感嘆する意》

助詞：

１．…の。《連体修飾語の後に置き、所属関係を示す。「之」の用法と同じである。》

２．…しうる。《動詞の後に置き、その行為の可能を表す。》

通：得る

English Translation

 底　「soko」「tei」

Noun form：

⒈　The bottom

a . The lowest part of a thing

b . A low region; low point

c . The end point (of something). The furthest part that can be reached 

２．An innermost region; the center or interior

３．The root, source, or origin (of a thing)

４．The draft of a manuscript《Historical fact: During the Chinese Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), the Chinese Secretariat's office used the kanji 「草」to denote the draft of an official document, while the Emperor's Privy Council used the kanji 「底」for such drafts. 》

５．A foundation or undercoat that enhances the shape and color of a thing. (e.g., makeup)

６．A whet- or grindstone. See also：「砥 」

Verb form：

１．To arrive at; to reach

２．To be closed; to be stagnate; to remain (in one place); to be delayed

３．To forge (e.g., metal); to whet or sharpen; to refine

Pronoun form：

１．What《asking for information specifying something》As in questions like:

a . "What is the thing like?"

b . "What kind of thing is it?" "What sort of thing is it?"

２．This (e.g., an object)

３．Them. It.《Can denote both a person or object, and is modified by verbs, adjectives or phrases》

Adverb form： 

１．What; how《used when expressing a strong level of astonishment or admiration》

Particle form：

１．Possessive noun marker《In Chinese, it functions as a modifier, and is placed after a noun, indicating a connected relationship between the noun and what proceeds the modifier. Its usage rules are the same as「之」》

２．Can do ...; May be able to do ...《When placed after a verb, it indicates the potential for an action》

See also：「得る」