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注定 (zhù dìng) — to be destined to; to be fated to; to be doomed to

Definition

注定 frames an outcome as preordained by fate — a stronger, more literary sense of inevitability than 势必 or 必定 (which mean 'surely/invariably' from logic or certainty, not destiny). Common in written narrative about a destined future.

verb
to be destined toto be fated toto be doomed to

Examples

  • 注定。
    Tā men zhù dìng huì xiāng yù.
    They are destined to meet.
  • 注定。
    Tā zhù dìng huì chéng wéi yí wèi yōu xiù de yī shēng.
    She is destined to become an excellent doctor.
  • 注定。
    Zhè chǎng zhàn zhēng zhù dìng shī bài.
    This war is doomed to fail.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

注zhùfix/determine
定dìngsettle/determine

注 and 定 both carry the sense of fixing or settling, so the fate is 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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
主
主zhǔ注zhù
Same sound today

注 combines 水, meaning water, with 主, which gives the sound.

Open 注 →

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
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