测定 (cè dìng) — to determine (by measuring or surveying)

Definition

测定 emphasizes finding a value by measuring or testing. 测量 is the act of measuring itself; 测算 adds calculation to the measurement.

verb

to determine (by measuring or surveying)

Examples

测定。
Wǒ men xū yào xiān cè dìng shuǐ de wēn dù.
We need to first determine the temperature of the water.
测定。
Kē xué shí yàn tōng cháng xū yào duō cì cè dìng cái néng dé dào zhǔn què de jié guǒ.
Scientific experiments usually require multiple measurements to get accurate results.
测定。
Yī shēng yòng zhuān yè shè bèi cè dìng bìng rén de xuè yā.
Doctors use professional equipment to determine a patient's blood pressure.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

测cèmeasure

定dìngdetermine

‘测’ means measuring and ‘定’ means fixing or determining; the result is to determine something by measurement.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 測; 测 is its simplified writing.

氵則測

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

則

則zé測cè

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 測 combines 氵 (water) with 則 for the sound; it is explained as measuring the depth of water. The simplified 测 is a later shorthand.

Open 测 →

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

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Science (General)