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裁定 (cái dìng) — (verb) to rule, to adjudicate (a case, dispute, etc.)

Definition

A formal 'to rule / adjudicate' by a court or arbitration body, narrower than 判决 (the final judgment/sentence) and 裁决 (also sports).

verb
to ruleto adjudicate (a case, dispute, etc.)

Examples

  • 裁定。
    Zuì gāo fǎ yuàn jiāng yú xià yuè cái dìng cǐ àn.
    The Supreme Court will rule on this case next month.
  • 裁定。
    Zhòng cái wěi yuán huì yǐ jīng cái dìng le tā men de hé tong jiū fēn.
    The arbitration committee has already adjudicated their contract dispute.
  • 裁定。
    Fǎ guān zǐ xì tīng qǔ le shuāng fāng yì jiàn hòu cái zuò chū cái dìng.
    The judge carefully heard both sides' opinions before making a ruling.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

裁cáiadjudicate
定dìngsettle

裁定 brings together 裁 (adjudicate) and 定 (settle), giving a ruling that settles a matter.

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
衣衣yī
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢦏
𢦏𢦏裁cái
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

裁 combines 衣 (clothing) with 𢦏, whose form is tied to a blade and an arrow, to show cutting fabric.

Open 裁 →

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 7-9Law & Justice

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