Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
下地 (したじ, shitaji) Japanese meaning: groundwork | Kotomora
じ 字
Meanings Jump to a sense… 1. groundwork; foundation; preparation 2. aptitude; inclination; elementary knowledge 3. undercoat; first coat; primer 4. soy sauce Report an issue with this page
こう
の
下した
地じ
は
日ひ
々び
の
努ど
力りょく
に
ある
。
The foundation of success lies in daily effort.
He had a grounding in music from a young age.
Usage patterns 〈 事こと 〉 の 下した 地じ を 作つく る to lay the groundwork for something
I'm studying English to lay the groundwork for studying abroad.
下した 地じ ができている to already have the basic groundwork or skills in place
He already has a foundation in piano, so he'll improve quickly.
〈 事こと 〉 の 下した 地じ がある to have a natural aptitude or basic knowledge in something
She has an aptitude for drawing, so it's fun to teach her.
下した 地じ を 塗ぬ る to apply an undercoat or primer
You need to apply a primer before painting the wall.
Related words· 6 基礎 is a more concrete and formal term for a physical or academic foundation, while 下地 emphasizes the preparatory or underlying conditions, often more abstract.
素地 often refers to an inherent quality or natural disposition, whereas 下地 can also describe groundwork acquired through preparation.
土台 usually describes a literal, structural base (like a house's foundation), while 下地 more often refers to abstract preparatory conditions or skills.
基盤 refers to a broad underlying base or infrastructure supporting something, while 下地 focuses more on the preparatory steps that lead up to a result.
Show 2 more 下塗り specifically means the first coat of paint applied in painting work, a narrower term than 下地, which can mean any undercoat or primer layer.
下地 means groundwork or foundation in a general sense, while レール in its figurative use specifically evokes a pre-set course someone is meant to follow.
Don't confuse with 地下 (with the kanji reversed) means 'underground' or 'basement', while 下地 means 'groundwork' or 'foundation'—an easy mix-up due to the swapped characters.
下地 refers to an underlying foundation or preparatory base (e.g., a makeup base or background knowledge), whereas 下敷き in its 'basis' sense refers to an existing work used as a model for something new.
Etymology Compound of 下 (した, 'under') and 地 (じ, 'ground, base'). The meaning 'soy sauce' is an archaic usage, possibly from its role as a base seasoning.
makeup base; primer; foundation base
