定购 (dìng gòu) — to order goods; to place an order

Definition

定购 is a formal, often written/contractual term for placing an order for goods — stronger and more businesslike than the everyday verb 买.

verb

to order goodsto place an order

定购。
Wǒ men gāng cóng zhè jiā gōng sī dìng gòu le yì pī xīn shè bèi.
We just ordered a batch of new equipment from this company.
定购，。
Nín kě yǐ zài wǎng shàng dìng gòu, rán hòu xuǎn zé sòng huò shàng mén.
You can place an order online, then choose home delivery.
，定购。
Yóu yú kù cún bù zú, wǒ men wú fǎ jiē shòu xīn de dìng gòu.
Due to insufficient stock, we cannot accept new orders.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

定dìngplace an order

定 can mean to place an order, and 购 means to buy; together they describe ordering goods.

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

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.

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 購; 购 is its simplified writing.

貝冓購

Meaning part形符xíngfú

貝貝bèishellfish

Sound part声符shēngfú

冓

冓gòu購gòu

Same sound today

The traditional form 購 pairs 貝, a shellfish, with 冓, which gives the sound; the simplified 购 is a later shorthand.

Appears in