The character 定 — “set”: how to write it and what it means

定
dìng

set, fix; firmly

8 strokes · HSK 3 · word page

The Chinese character 定 is read dìng and means “set, fix; firmly”. Below: the stroke order step by step, what the character is made of and the words it appears in.

Stroke order: how to write 定

定 has 8 strokes. At each step the new stroke is highlighted — write them in the same order: top to bottom and left to right, horizontal before vertical, a frame before what is inside it, and the bottom stroke of the frame last.

To train your hand, print a handwriting sheet for 定, with strokes to trace and empty squares.

What 定 is made of

On top, 宀 “roof”.

The parts of a character hint at its meaning or its reading — more in the article “Chinese character radicals”.

Words with 定

Frequently asked questions

How do you write the character 定?

定 has 8 strokes. They follow the usual rules: top to bottom, left to right, horizontal before vertical, outside before inside. The order of each stroke is shown on this page.

What does 定 mean?

定 means “set, fix; firmly”. It appears in 一定 (“definitely”), 决定 (“decide”), 规定 (“rule”), 肯定 (“definitely”).

How do you pronounce 定?

定 is read dìng. The tone is part of the reading: with another melody it becomes another syllable.

How many strokes does 定 have?

8 strokes.

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More characters on the page “Chinese characters with meanings” and in the list of HSK characters by level; whole words are in the dictionary.

Write 定 yourself

In the lessons you write characters stroke by stroke with a finger or a mouse, and the course checks the order. You can start for free, no sign-up needed.

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