TongTong
Sign in

定性 (dìng xìng) — (verb) to determine the nature or character of something (in science, law, etc.); (adjective) qualitative

Definition

As a verb, 定性 means to officially classify the nature of something (a case, a substance). The related adjective sense — qualitative (as in 定性分析) — describes analysis based on qualities rather than numbers.

verb
to determine the nature or character of something (in science, law, etc.)
adjective
qualitative

Examples

  • 定性。
    Shí yàn shì xū yào duì zhè zhǒng wù zhì jìn xíng dìng xìng fēn xī.
    The lab needs to conduct a qualitative analysis of this substance.
  • 。
    Zhè ge àn jiàn yǐ jīng dìng le xìng.
    This case has already been characterized.
  • 定性。
    Wǒ men xū yào zuò yí gè dìng xìng píng gū lái què dìng fāng àn.
    We need to do a qualitative assessment to determine the plan.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

定dìngdetermine
性xìngnature

定 fixes or determines, and 性 gives the nature or property being determined.

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.

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 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng性xìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Open 性 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.