基 basis

The key to winning arguments is to have a basis in fact.

Everything that lives is based on the earth.

to be based on xxx ★★★★☆

the basics ★★★☆☆
基 (basis) + 本 (book / the real) + 的 (motivation / '-al') = 基本的 (the basics)

the basics (the emphasis is: the minimum knowledge)

Also means fundamentally (emphasizing the essential bits that various things or ideas have in common)

a standard ★★☆☆☆
基 (basis) + 準 (prepare / criteria) = 基準 (a standard )

criterion - the basis for judging a sex partner, potential job applicant, which songs to buy, etc. Also - unlike the OTHER きじゅん （規準）、THIS きじゅん ALSO has a second meaning: 'standard', as in, standard wages, standard price, the gold standard, standard medical ethics. Metric is our standard of measurement in Japan, whereas in USA they use their own standard.