dǐ

老底

Word · NounTraditional底

bottom; details; foundation

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 6 examples
1.

noun

inner workings; inside story; the real situation

informal

Often used in the set phrase '揭老底儿' (to reveal someone's unsavory secrets or past). The word '老' here emphasizes that it is long-standing, hidden, or fundamental.

Tā他
zuì最
pà怕
bié别
rén人
jiē揭
tā他
de的
lǎo老
dǐ底
er儿
 。

He is most afraid of others exposing his unsavory past.

Zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
de的
dǐ底
xì细
 ，
zhǐ只
yǒu有
tā他
zhī知
dào道
 。

Only he knows the inside story of this matter.

Show 1 more example
Bié别
tīng听
tā他
chuī吹
niú牛
 ，
wǒ我
tài太
liǎo了
jiě解
tā他
de的
dǐ底
le了
 。

Don't listen to his bragging; I know his real situation all too well.

2.

Definition

family fortune; inherited wealth; nest egg

informal

Refers specifically to wealth passed down from ancestors or one's foundational capital. Often used in the context of preserving, squandering, or having a substantial amount of it.

Tā他
jiā家
lǎo老
dǐ底
er儿
hòu厚
 ，
jīng经
de得
qǐ起
zhè这
me么
zhē折
teng腾
 。

His family has a substantial fortune and can withstand this kind of trouble.

Nà那
jiā家
huo伙
bú不
wù务
zhèng正
yè业
 ，
jǐ几
nián年
gōng功
fu夫
jiù就
bǎ把
lǎo老
dǐ底
er儿
bài败
guāng光
le了
 。

That guy didn't do honest work and squandered his family fortune in just a few years.

Show 1 more example
Zhè这
shì是
zuì最
hòu后
de的
lǎo老
dǐ底
er儿
le了
 ，
bù不
néng能
zài再
dòng动
le了
 。

This is the last of the nest egg; we can't touch it anymore.