定

dìng

Pinyin
dìng
Pinyin (Plain)
ding
Tone
4
Strokes
8
Radical
宀
Readings
dìngdingTone: 4to 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) definitelyOrder: 0Primary
Stroke Order Code
Speed
Stroke Order Data
["M 446 806 Q 497 746 537 728 Q 555 724 566 741 Q 573 757 570 777 Q 563 805 541 821 Q 493 854 456 854 Q 440 858 430 854 Q 423 853 425 837 Q 426 824 446 806 Z", "M 268 632 Q 267 635 267 637 Q 252 662 239 671 Q 218 684 218 657 Q 224 621 191 576 Q 143 518 179 459 Q 195 431 216 462 Q 232 490 243 529 Q 253 571 264 597 C 273 618 273 618 268 632 Z", "M 264 597 Q 288 588 318 597 Q 442 640 650 666 Q 696 672 713 670 Q 723 658 721 653 Q 721 650 690 573 Q 683 557 689 553 Q 698 549 716 562 Q 777 602 827 614 Q 867 627 868 636 Q 867 646 786 703 Q 759 722 659 700 Q 553 684 360 647 Q 314 640 268 632 C 238 627 235 603 264 597 Z", "M 488 461 Q 629 494 636 500 Q 646 509 640 519 Q 631 532 598 539 Q 568 545 471 510 Q 398 492 346 486 Q 306 479 335 460 Q 381 433 446 452 L 488 461 Z", "M 510 143 Q 514 228 519 298 L 521 332 Q 524 393 526 400 Q 533 419 524 431 Q 505 450 488 461 C 463 478 434 480 446 452 Q 461 418 461 393 Q 462 369 461 173 C 461 143 509 113 510 143 Z", "M 519 298 Q 555 289 637 309 Q 686 321 690 324 Q 699 334 693 343 Q 683 356 650 361 Q 632 362 553 339 Q 537 336 521 332 C 492 325 490 304 519 298 Z", "M 342 256 Q 357 280 372 300 Q 382 313 368 329 Q 323 363 296 361 Q 284 358 286 343 Q 298 232 171 92 Q 159 86 117 37 Q 108 21 124 26 Q 146 29 174 51 Q 262 120 312 206 Q 316 215 322 223 L 342 256 Z", "M 322 223 Q 502 64 714 -42 Q 747 -52 909 -11 Q 948 1 957 14 Q 963 27 940 28 Q 853 38 801 40 Q 678 46 514 141 Q 511 142 510 143 L 461 173 Q 401 210 342 256 C 318 274 299 243 322 223 Z"]
Meaning
The character “定” basically means “to set, decide, or fix” something so it becomes stable or unchanging (as in decide a plan, set a price, fix a date). It can also describe a calm, steady state, like being settled, stable, or not moving.
Metadata
Locale: en
Cached At: 3/26/2026, 9:11:25 AM

Usage

“定” is very common in modern Chinese and usually carries the idea of “to decide,” “to fix,” or “to be certain.” As a verb, you see it in words like 决定 (juédìng, “to decide; decision”), 规定 (guīdìng, “to stipulate; regulation”), and 一定 (yídìng, “definitely; certain”). On its own, 定 can mean “to decide / to set,” as in 定一个时间 (“set a time”), or “to be sure,” as in 你定了吗？(“Have you decided?” in some contexts). It’s also used for “to fix; to stabilize,” as in 安定 (āndìng, “stable; stability”). Learners also meet “定” in everyday compounds about making something firm, settled, or regular. For example, 约定 (yuēdìng, “to agree on; agreement”), 确定 (quèdìng, “to confirm; to be sure”), 一定要… (“must definitely…”), and 固定 (gùdìng, “fixed; regular”). It appears in set phrases like 定期 (dìngqī, “regularly; at fixed intervals”) and 定价 (dìngjià, “to set a price”). Overall, the character often signals that something is decided, fixed, or certain in time, quantity, or attitude.

Handwriting Notes

定 is usually written as a compact square shape with a clear “roof” (宀) on top and a simple component below. In normal handwriting, the top roof tends to be slightly wider than the part underneath, giving the character a stable, centered look. The horizontal stroke under the roof is often drawn a bit longer than in printed fonts, and the small dot inside the bottom part may shift slightly left or right depending on the writer, but the overall balance of top and bottom is key: it should not look too tall and thin or too wide and flat. Handwritten forms can vary in how straight or curved the strokes are, how sharply corners are turned, and how much the writer connects or simplifies lines, especially in fast cursive writing. Some people compress the inner space, making the character look tighter; others open it up, leaving more white space under the roof. Despite these variations, the key identifying features are the 宀 roof and the simple enclosure with a dot-like mark inside. Modern AI handwriting recognition systems are trained to handle this range of handwritten styles, learning to recognize 定 even when it’s written quickly, slightly distorted, or in a personal handwriting style.

Description

定 is a common character meaning “to decide,” “to fix,” or “settled,” and can also mean “certain” or “definite” (as in 一定 “definitely”). It often appears in words about decisions, arrangements, or stability, such as 决定 (to decide) and 安定 (stable). In modern Mandarin it is pronounced dìng.

Common Words

  • 决定jué dìngto decide; decision
  • 一定yí dìngcertainly; definitely; certain; fixed
  • 安定ān dìngstable; calm; stability
  • 规定guī dìngto stipulate; to prescribe; regulation
  • 肯定kěn dìngto affirm; to confirm; definitely
  • 确定què dìngto determine; to confirm; to be sure
  • 预定yù dìngto book in advance; to reserve
  • 限定xiàn dìngto limit; to restrict; limited
  • 认定rèn dìngto firmly believe; to maintain; to designate
  • 注定zhù dìngto be destined; to be fated
  • 设定shè dìngto set; to establish; setting (as in options)
  • 镇定zhèn dìngcalm; composed; to calm down
  • 锁定suǒ dìngto lock; to lock onto; to fix on (a target)
  • 稳定wěn dìngstable; steady; to stabilize
  • 平定píng dìngto pacify; to put down (a rebellion)
  • 审定shěn dìngto examine and approve; to review and finalize
  • 核定hé dìngto verify and fix (an amount); to ratify
  • 注定要zhù dìng yàoto be bound to; to be destined to
  • 静定jìng dìngcalm and steady (less common, literary but attested)
  • 商定shāng dìngto negotiate and decide; to agree on
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