How to say "base" in Japanese

• 台だいJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)The physical 'base' that something rests on: a stand or pedestal under an object, such as a display stand or a statue's pedestal; not the word for an abstract basis.
  この台だいの上うえに花瓶かびんを置おいてはいけません。↗

  Please don't place a vase on this stand.
• ベースJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe loanword for the general English 'base' or 'basis'; it also means a basic ingredient, as in cooking, and is the natural choice in borrowed expressions.
  キューバリブレはラム酒らむしゅをベースにしたカクテルです。↗

  A Cuba Libre is a cocktail with a rum base.
• 拠点きょてんCommon
  nounA base of operations: the site or center from which people work or organize activity, such as a company's regional base or a research center.
  リストラされた彼かれは心機一転しんきいってん、自宅じたくを拠点きょてんにＳＯＨＯビジネスを始はじめた。↗

  After getting downsized he started off on a clean slate and started a business working out of a home office.
• 基地きちJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounSpecifically a military or expedition base — the 'base' in 'military base'; not a general word for a base, stand, or foundation.
  この近ちかくに軍ぐんの基地きちがある。↗

  There is a military base near here.
• 土台どだいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe foundation sense: the base a building stands on, and figuratively the basis something is built on, such as the foundation of a plan or argument.
  この家いえは土台どだいがしっかりしている。↗

  This house has a solid foundation.

Use 台 for a physical stand or pedestal, 土台 for a foundation or basis, 「ベース」 for general loanword uses of 'base' including a basic ingredient, 拠点 for a base of operations, and 基地 for military or expedition bases.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 台だいstand
• ベースbase
• 拠点きょてんbase (of operations)
• 基地きちbase (military, expedition, etc.)
• 土台どだいfoundation
• 基盤きばんbase
• 本塁ほんるいbase
• 底辺ていへんbase (of a polygon)
• 塁るいbase
• 塩基えんきbase
• 付け根つけねroot
• 本拠ほんきょstronghold
• 麓ふもとfoot (of a mountain or hill)
• 基底きていbase
• 基部きぶbase
• 根拠地こんきょちbase (of operations)
• 下等かとうinferior
• 卑劣ひれつmean
• 底ていbase (logarithmic, exponential, number system)
• 根元ねもとbase (of a plant, tree, pillar, etc.)
• 底面ていめんbottom
• 底部ていぶbase
• 株元かぶもとbase (of a plant or tree)
• 下劣げれつbase
• バーゼbase
• 基剤きざいbase (e.g. of an ointment or suppository)
• 地際じぎわbase (of a stem, tree trunk, pillar, etc.)
• 底数ていすうbase
• 基体きたいbase
• 語基ごきbase
• 登り口のぼりぐちstarting point for an ascent (mountain, stairs, etc.)
• さもしいlow
• 置き台おきだいstand
• 陋劣ろうれつmean
• 本拠地ほんきょちstronghold
• 展色剤てんしょくざい(ink) vehicle
• 野卑やひvulgar
• 票田ひょうでん(reliable) source of votes
• 進数しんすう(number) base (e.g. 10)
• 元もとbasis
• 根拠こんきょbase (of operations)
• 幹みきbackbone
• キャンバスbase
• 根っこねっこroot (of a problem, etc.)
• 足場あしばfoothold (e.g. in business)
• 地盤じばんfoundation (building, etc.)
• 母体ぼたいparent body
• 基数きすうbase
• 根城ねじろbase (of operations)
• 母胎ぼたいparent body
• 卑しいいやしいvulgar
• 開基かいきbase (topology)
• 下賎げせんlowly
• ミディアムmedium
• 風呂ふろbase (wooden joint connecting the blade of a hoe, spade, etc., to the handle)
• 汚いきたないdastardly
• 地じbase