Character Familiestop / bottom

定dìng

fixed; settled; to decide; to determine; surely; certainly; calm; steady

定 sets a roof over a foot planted still: fixed plans, decisions (决定), and 一定 'surely'.

GF0025–2021 character list · 二级
One character pageAll readings and linked senses stay together.

top / bottom

ZDIC: 会意,从宀、从正. The bottom writes 正 as a fused variant — 一 over the foot piece 龰; shown as a visual aid, not the standalone word 正.

top / bottom · 定

WHOLE CHARACTER

定dìng

fixed; settled; to decide; to determine; surely; certainly; calm; steady

定 sets a roof over a foot planted still: fixed plans, decisions (决定), and 一定 'surely'.

ZDIC: 会意,从宀、从正. The bottom writes 正 as a fused variant — 一 over the foot piece 龰; shown as a visual aid, not the standalone word 正.

TOP: THE ROOF SIDE (ZDIC 从宀)

宀mián

covered house; shelter

Often called the roof component. Its dictionary meaning concerns a covered house; its role in this character is shown below.

In 定: top: the roof side (ZDIC 从宀) Shown with its documented or clearly limited role.

BOTTOM: THE WRITTEN VARIANT OF 正

Component group

Notice this part of the shape; it is not taught as a separate word in this lesson.

In 定: bottom: the written variant of 正 Shown with its documented or clearly limited role.

dìngTone 4
  • fixed; settled
  • to decide; to determine
  • surely; certainly
  • calm; steady
  • 决定juédìngto decide
  • 一定yídìngsurely; certainly
  • 安定āndìngstable; calm

Checking for a Mandarin voice…