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定案 (dìng àn) — to reach a verdict; to finalize a decision

Definition

Legal/formal verb meaning 'to reach a final verdict or decision on a case' — used when a court, committee, or authority officially closes a matter, stronger and more definitive than just deciding.

verb
to reach a verdictto finalize a decision

Examples

  • 定案。
    Fǎ yuàn zhōng yú dìng àn le.
    The court finally reached a verdict.
  • 定案。
    Zhè ge àn zi hái méi yǒu dìng àn.
    This case hasn't been finalized yet.
  • 。
    Fǎ guān jīn tiān dìng le àn.
    The judge reached a verdict today.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

定dìngsettle
案àncase

定 means to settle or fix, and 案 refers to a case or matter, so the word means to settle a case.

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
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
安
安ān案àn
Same sound today

案 pairs 木, a wood/tree shape, with 安, which is used for its sound.

Open 案 →
Appears in
Law & Justice

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