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坚定 (jiān dìng) — (adjective) firm, steady, resolute (of beliefs, will, stance); (verb) to make firm, to strengthen (one's conviction, determination)

Definition

An adjective describing beliefs, will, or stance that are firm and unshaken. As a verb, it means to make something (e.g. conviction) stronger — a state, not an ongoing action like 坚持.

adjective
firmsteadyresolute (of beliefs, will, stance)
verb
to make firmto strengthen (one's conviction, determination)

Examples

  • 坚定。
    Tā yǒu zhe jiān dìng de yì zhì.
    He has an unyielding will.
  • 坚定。
    Zhè cì chéng gōng jiān dìng le tā de xìn xīn.
    This success strengthened his confidence.
  • 坚定。
    Wǒ men huì jiān dìng dì zhī chí nǐ.
    We will firmly support you.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

坚jiānfirm
定dìngsteady

坚 means firm and 定 means steady; together they describe firm resolve.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 堅; 坚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
臤
臤qiān堅jiān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 堅 pairs 臤, giving the sound, with 土, earth, giving the sense; the simplified 坚 is a later shorthand.

Open 坚 →

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.

Open 定 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Personality & Traits

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