定 meaning in English
to fix; to set; to make definite; to subscribe to (a newspaper etc); to book (tickets etc); to order (goods etc)
Meaning of 定
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- 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 to use 定
On its own, 定 often means to set or decide something, such as a time or plan. In daily speech, the related word 订 (dìng) is more standard for booking or ordering, but 定 also appears in this sense. Example: 我们定个时间吧。(Wǒmen dìng ge shíjiān ba.) Let's set a time.
The top of 定 is the roof radical 宀, the same one in 家 (jiā, home). Picture someone coming under a roof and settling down for good. Once you are under the roof, things are fixed and decided.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 定 with 订 (dìng). Both can mean to book or order, but 订 with the speech radical 讠 is the normal choice for 订票 (dìngpiào, to book tickets) and 订报纸 (to subscribe to a newspaper). Use 定 for fixing or deciding, as in 决定 (juédìng).
定 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
定 dìng · to fix · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 定.
| 一定 | yīdìng | surely; certainly; definitely; fixed; settled |
| 不一定 | bùyīdìng | not necessarily; maybe |
| 决定 | juédìng | to decide; to determine; to make up one's mind; decision (CL:個|个[ge4],項|项[xiang4]) |
| 确定 | quèdìng | definite; certain |
| 规定 | guīdìng | to stipulate; to specify; to prescribe; to fix (a price); to set (a quota); regulations; r |
| 制定 | zhìdìng | to draw up; to formulate |
| 否定 | fǒudìng | to negate; to deny |
| 定期 | dìngqī | at set dates; at regular intervals |
| 说不定 | shuōbudìng | can't say for sure; maybe |
| 稳定 | wěndìng | steady; stable |
| 固定 | gùdìng | to fix; to fasten |
| 肯定 | kěndìng | to be certain; to be positive; assuredly; definitely |
Questions about 定
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)" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 定?
定 is made of 1 character: 定 (8 strokes). That is 8 strokes in total.
Is 定 an HSK word?
Yes. 定 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 一定 and 确定?
一定 (yīdìng) usually means surely or must, and it often expresses strong belief or a promise, as in 我一定来 (I will definitely come). 确定 (quèdìng) means to confirm or be certain about a fact, as in 你确定吗? (Are you sure?).
Does 不一定 mean definitely not?
No. 不一定 (bùyīdìng) means not necessarily or maybe. For example, 他不一定来 means he might not come, not that he surely won't.