Chinese–EnglishWith examples

底线

dǐ xiàn · di xian

Traditional 底線

HSK 7–9

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. bottom line; the limit of what one is prepared to accept
  2. (sports) baseline
  3. (sewing) under thread
  4. spy; informer; plant
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In a conversation

0:23 cartoon

The midnight limit

  1. Liangliang

    灯灯(dēngdēng)，你(nǐ)每天(měitiān)最晚(zuìwǎn)几点(jǐdiǎn)睡觉(shuìjiào)？

    Dengdeng, what is the latest you go to bed every day?

  2. Dengdeng

    十二点(shíèrdiǎn)是(shì)我的(wǒde)底线(dǐxiàn)，过了(guòle)十二点(shíèrdiǎn)我(wǒ)就(jiù)不(bù)看(kàn)手机(shǒujī)了(le)。

    Midnight is my limit. After midnight I stop looking at my phone.

  3. Liangliang

    真的(zhēnde)吗(ma)？上次(shàngcì)我(wǒ)看到(kàndào)你(nǐ)一点(yīdiǎn)还(hái)在线(zàixiàn)。

    Really? Last time I saw you still online at one.

  4. Dengdeng

    那天(nàtiān)是(shì)特别(tèbié)情况(qíngkuàng)。

    That day was a special case.

  5. Liangliang

    底线(dǐxiàn)还(hái)能(néng)有(yǒu)特别(tèbié)情况(qíngkuàng)？

    A limit can even have special cases?

  6. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)看(kàn)，现在(xiànzài)十二点半(shíèrdiǎnbàn)，我们(wǒmen)都(dōu)该(gāi)睡(shuì)了(le)。

    Look, it is half past twelve now. We both should be asleep.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

不(bù)管(guǎn)多(duō)生(shēng)气(qì)，我(wǒ)也(yě)不(bú)会(huì)动(dòng)手(shǒu)打(dǎ)人(rén)，这(zhè)是(shì)我(wǒ)的(de)底(dǐ)线(xiàn)。

No matter how angry I get, I won't hit anyone; that's my bottom line.

02

谈(tán)判(pàn)中(zhōng)双(shuāng)方(fāng)都(dōu)表(biǎo)示(shì)，价(jià)格(gé)可(kě)以(yǐ)商(shāng)量(liang)，但(dàn)不(bù)能(néng)越(yuè)过(guò)底(dǐ)线(xiàn)。

During the negotiation both sides said the price could be discussed, but the bottom line must not be crossed.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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