底线 (dǐxiàn)

底线 literally means "bottom line" and refers to the minimum acceptable standard, threshold, or principle that must not be crossed. It can apply to ethics (moral bottom line), negotiations (minimum acceptable terms), governance (red lines), or personal values. It is widely used in political, diplomatic, legal, and ethical discourse.

Meanings

[n] bottom line, minimum standard (the lowest acceptable limit)
[n] red line, non-negotiable principle (a line that must not be crossed)

Example Sentences

无论谈判多么艰难，坚守国家主权的底线是不容置疑的原则。 Wúlùn tánpàn duōme jiānnán, jiānshǒu guójiā zhǔquán de dǐxiàn shì bùróng zhìyí de yuánzé. No matter how difficult the negotiations, holding to the bottom line of national sovereignty is a non-negotiable principle.

媒体报道享有新闻自由，但不得越过不侵害无辜者权益的道德底线。 Méitǐ bàodào xiǎngyǒu xīnwén zìyóu, dàn bùdé yuèguò bù qīnhài wúgū zhě quányì de dàodé dǐxiàn. Media reporting enjoys press freedom but must not cross the ethical bottom line of not harming the rights of innocent parties.

在这场薪资谈判中，工会明确向雇主表明了工资增幅的底线要求。 Zài zhè chǎng xīnzī tánpàn zhōng, gōnghuì míngquè xiàng gùzhǔ biǎomíng le gōngzī zēngfú de dǐxiàn yāoqiú. In this wage negotiation, the union clearly communicated to the employer the minimum required wage increase.

食品安全是政府治理的绝对底线，任何违规行为都将受到最严厉的惩处。 Shípǐn ānquán shì zhèngfǔ zhìlǐ de juéduì dǐxiàn, rènhé wéiguī xíngwéi dōu jiāng shòudào zuì yánlì de chéngchǔ. Food safety is the absolute bottom line of government governance; any violations will be punished with the utmost severity.

当个人的道德底线与社会压力相冲突时，坚守自我是一种需要勇气的选择。 Dāng gèrén de dàodé dǐxiàn yǔ shèhuì yālì xiāng chōngtū shí, jiānshǒu zìwǒ shì yī zhǒng xūyào yǒngqì de xuǎnzé. When a person's moral bottom line conflicts with social pressure, holding firm to oneself is a choice that requires courage.

环境保护的生态底线一旦被突破，其后果将是难以弥补的生态灾难。 Huánjìng bǎohù de shēngtài dǐxiàn yīdàn bèi túpò, qí hòuguǒ jiāng shì nányǐ míbǔ de shēngtài zāinàn. Once the ecological bottom line of environmental protection is breached, the consequences will be an ecological disaster that is difficult to remedy.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
道德底线	moral bottom line
坚守底线	to hold the line, to not compromise
突破底线	to cross the line, to breach the threshold
生态底线	ecological red line

Usage Notes

底线 has become extremely productive in contemporary Chinese political and social discourse. It often collocates with 坚守 (to hold firm), 触碰 (to touch/approach), and 突破 (to breach). The phrase 不碰底线 (not touching the red line) is a common warning in regulatory contexts. 底线 is slightly more absolute than 原则 (principle): crossing 底线 implies a serious violation, while violating 原则 may be more situational.

In everyday speech, 底线 can also describe a personal minimum threshold: 这是我的底线 (This is my minimum; I won't go lower).

Memory Hook

底 (bottom) + 线 (line) — the bottom line is the floor you cannot go below; it is the last line you draw in the sand.