固定 (gù dìng) — to fix in place, to secure, to fasten | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

固定 (gùdìng) means to physically fix or fasten something in place (e.g. with screws, bolts). For 'certain/definite' in the sense of 'sure', use 确定 instead.

verb

to fix in placeto secureto fasten

Examples

固定。
Qǐng bǎ jià zi gù dìng zài qiáng shàng.
Please fix the shelf on the wall.
固定。
Nǐ xū yào gù dìng zhè xiē luó sī.
You need to fasten these screws.
固定。
Gōng rén zhèng zài gù dìng xīn de shè bèi.
The workers are securing the new equipment.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

固 (firm) and 定 (set) together express making something firm and stable.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

囗古固

Meaning part形符xíngfú

囗囗wéi

Sound part声符shēngfú

古

古gǔ固gù

Same sound today

固 combines 囗, which relates to the meaning, with 古, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀mián

Sound part声符shēngfú

正

正zhèng定dìng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

定 is built from 宀 and 正, with 正 supplying the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 5 HSK 2.0 Level 5 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.