guōdǐ suíbiàn.

In everyday restaurant Chinese, especially in a hot pot context, 锅底 usually means the soup base / broth base, not the physical bottom of the pot.

So depending on context, 锅底随便。 most likely means something like:

• Any soup base is fine.
• I don't care which broth base we choose.

Literally, 锅底 can mean pot bottom, but in food ordering it often has this specialized meaning.

Here 随便 means whatever is fine, I have no preference, or anything is okay.

In this sentence, it does not mean casual in the clothing/style sense.

Common natural translations here would be:

• Any kind is fine.
• Whatever works.
• I don't mind.

So 锅底随便。 expresses no preference about the soup base.

Chinese often allows very short, elliptical spoken sentences, especially in conversation.

锅底随便。 is a compact way of saying something like:

• 锅底（都）随便。
• 锅底什么都可以。
• 锅底你决定就行。

A natural way to understand the structure is:

• 锅底 = topic: as for the soup base
• 随便 = comment: anything is fine / no preference

So even though there is no explicit verb like to be, the sentence is perfectly natural in speech.

It is most naturally understood as a short spoken reply.

For example:

• A server asks: 锅底要什么？
• You answer: 锅底随便。

So yes, it works as a sentence in conversation, but it feels abbreviated and context-dependent. In more complete speech, you might hear:

• 锅底都可以。
• 锅底随便吧。
• 锅底我都行。

Yes, it can, depending on tone of voice and context.

By itself, 随便 can sometimes sound:

• too blunt
• dismissive
• like I don't care

In a friendly situation, it may be totally fine. But if you want to sound softer or more polite, you could say:

• 都可以。 = Either is fine / Any is fine
• 我都行。 = I'm okay with any of them
• 你决定吧。 = You decide
• 锅底都可以。 = Any soup base is fine

Adding 吧 also softens it:

• 锅底随便吧。

This is a good example of a topic-comment structure, which is very common in Chinese.

Structure:

• 锅底 = topic
• 随便 = comment

So the logic is:

• As for the soup base, anything is fine.

Chinese often introduces the topic first, then comments on it. This is different from how English usually builds sentences.

In many situations, yes. 锅底都可以 often sounds a bit smoother and less blunt.

Compare them:

• 锅底随便。 = Whatever, any soup base is fine.
• 锅底都可以。 = Any soup base is okay.

Both are natural, but 都可以 is often a safer choice for learners because it tends to sound more neutral and polite.

The pinyin is:

• 锅底 = guōdǐ
• 随便 = suíbiàn

Tones:

• guō = 1st tone
• dǐ = 3rd tone
• suí = 2nd tone
• biàn = 4th tone

A rough pronunciation guide:

• guō sounds a bit like gwoar with a high level tone
• dǐ sounds like dee with a dipping 3rd tone
• suí sounds like sway with a rising tone
• biàn sounds like byen with a falling tone

Yes, that is a very natural English translation of the feeling, even if it is not word-for-word.

Possible natural translations include:

• Any soup base is fine.
• I’m easy about the soup base.
• I don’t mind the soup base.
• Whatever soup base is okay.

So if the meaning has already been given, the main thing to remember is the attitude: no preference.