基准
jīzhǔn · HSK 7
base
📏 基准 = 基 base/foundation + 准 standard, so the base-standard you measure against
基 is the foundation (as in 基础), 准 means standard or accurate (as in 标准). Together they form the baseline or norm everything else gets compared to.
准 — ice radical 冫 + falcon 隹
Originally written 準, meaning a water level used to check flatness, hence 'standard' or 'level.' The simplified form 准 was historically a variant used for 'permit' or 'approve.' Modern Chinese merged both senses into 准, covering 'accurate,' 'standard,' and 'to allow.'