定然 (dìng rán) — certainly; definitely

Definition

定然 is a formal, written adverb for 'certainly/definitely' — stronger and more literary than the colloquial 一定 or the neutral 必然 (HSK 6). Common in essays and set phrases rather than everyday speech.

adverb
certainlydefinitely

Examples

  • ，定然。
    Nǐ zhǐ yào nǔ lì, dìng rán huì chéng gōng.
    As long as you work hard, you will certainly succeed.
  • 定然。
    Zhè jiàn shì dìng rán bú shì tā zuò de.
    This matter is definitely not something he did.
  • 定然。
    Míng tiān dìng rán shì gè hǎo tiān qì.
    Tomorrow will certainly be good weather.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

定dìngcertain
然rán

定 means certain; 然 completes the sense of definitely.

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →

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