ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY

to decide; fixed; certainly

dìng
8 strokes · 宀 (roof radical) + 正-variant (upright) — settled under a roof · HSK 3

Where 定 comes from

定 places uprightness under a roof 宀: the household in order, everything in its place. From 'settled' came 'fixed', 'decided', and the adverb of certainty — what's settled is sure.

定 in Chinese culture

一定 'certainly' seals Chinese promises: 我一定来 'I will definitely come'. 决定 to decide, 定金 a deposit ('fixed money'). The app's own namesake line from《大学》continues: 知止而后有定 — knowing where to stop brings 定, stability.

Example

一定 yídìng — certainly; must

你一定要来!
Nǐ yídìng yào lái!
You absolutely must come!

How to remember it

Everything upright under the roof 宀 — SETTLED, DECIDED, CERTAIN.

淡定 'calm and settled' is the modern compliment for grace under pressure — the internet's favorite two-character prescription for every crisis.

Same sound, different tones

1st dīng
cube; fourth
3rd dǐng
top
4th dìng
to decide; fixed

Words unlocked by 定

一定 yídìng
certainly
决定 juédìng
to decide

Related characters

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