定 meaning and stroke order
To fix; to set; to make definite; to subscribe to (a newspaper etc); to book (tickets etc); to order (goods etc); to congeal; to coagulate
How to write 定, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 定
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to fix; to set; to make definite
- to subscribe to (a newspaper etc); to book (tickets etc); to order (goods etc)
- to congeal; to coagulate
- (literary) definitely
How 定 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A person 疋 settling under a roof 宀.
Radical: 宀 (roof), shared by 67 characters on this site.
How to remember 定
The roof 宀 sits on top, and under it is 疋, a person with legs. Picture someone who has finally come home and settled under a roof, so their place is fixed and decided.
定 (dìng) rarely appears alone in speech except in phrases like 定了 (it's settled). It is very common in words such as 一定 (yīdìng, definitely) and 决定 (juédìng, to decide). Example: 我一定来。(Wǒ yīdìng lái.) I will definitely come.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 定 with 走 or 是 because the bottom part looks similar. The bottom of 定 is 疋, which has no 土 on top like 走. Also note that 一 changes to yí before the fourth tone, so 一定 is said yídìng.
Common words with 定
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 一定 | yīdìng | surely; certainly; definitely; fixed; settled | HSK 2 |
| 不一定 | bùyīdìng | not necessarily; maybe | HSK 2 |
| 决定 | juédìng | to decide; to determine; to make up one's mind; decision (CL:個|个[ge4],項|项[xiang4]) | HSK 3 |
| 确定 | quèdìng | definite; certain | HSK 3 |
| 规定 | guīdìng | to stipulate; to specify; to prescribe; to fix (a price); to set (a quota); regulations; r | HSK 3 |
| 制定 | zhìdìng | to draw up; to formulate | HSK 3 |
| 否定 | fǒudìng | to negate; to deny | HSK 3 |
| 定期 | dìngqī | at set dates; at regular intervals | HSK 3 |
| 说不定 | shuōbudìng | can't say for sure; maybe | HSK 4 |
| 稳定 | wěndìng | steady; stable | HSK 4 |
| 固定 | gùdìng | to fix; to fasten | HSK 4 |
| 肯定 | kěndìng | to be certain; to be positive; assuredly; definitely | HSK 5 |
| 特定 | tèdìng | special; specific; designated; particular | HSK 5 |
| 坚定 | jiāndìng | firm; steady | HSK 5 |
定 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 定
Learning 定 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 定
How many strokes are in 定?
定 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 定 mean?
定 (dìng) means to fix; to set; to make definite; to subscribe to (a newspaper etc); to book (tickets etc); to order (goods etc); to congeal; to coagulate. A common word with it is 一定 (yīdìng), meaning "surely; certainly; definitely; fixed; settled".
How do you pronounce 定?
定 is pronounced dìng, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 定?
The radical of 定 is 宀, which carries the idea of "roof". Dictionaries list 定 under this radical.
Is 定 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 定 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
How do I use 定 to book tickets or order things?
Use 定 as a verb, often in 定票 (dìng piào, to book tickets). Example: 我想定两张票。(Wǒ xiǎng dìng liǎng zhāng piào.) I want to book two tickets. Many people also write 订 (dìng) for booking and ordering, and both are seen.
What is the difference between 一定 and 不一定?
一定 (yídìng) means surely or definitely. 不一定 (bù yídìng) means not necessarily or maybe not. Example: 他不一定知道。(Tā bù yídìng zhīdào.) He doesn't necessarily know.