奠定

奠基 means 'to lay the foundation' or 'to establish a base.' It is often used metaphorically to describe the initial steps taken to create a stable basis for something larger, such as a project, relationship, or idea.

The character 奠 (diàn) originally meant to offer sacrifices and later came to mean 'to lay' or 'to establish.' The character 定 (dìng) means 'to fix,' 'to set,' or 'to determine.' Together, they convey the idea of setting up a solid base or starting point.

奠基 is commonly used in contexts like business, education, or personal development. For example, it might refer to laying the foundation for a career or a long-term goal. It is also used in historical or cultural discussions to describe the beginning of a movement or tradition.