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订制 (dìng zhì) — to have something custom-made, to customize (an order)

Definition

订制 (dìngzhì) means 'have something made to your own specs' — the client places an order for a custom-made item (clothing, furniture, software). Distinct from 定制, which is more common and broader (also covers customizing settings, products, services).

verb
to have something custom-madeto customize (an order)

Examples

  • 订制。
    Wǒ xiǎng dìng zhì yí tào xī zhuāng.
    I want to have a custom-made suit.
  • 订制。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī zhuān mén dìng zhì jiā jù.
    This company specializes in custom furniture.
  • 订制。
    Nǐ kě yǐ gēn jù zì jǐ de xū qiú dìng zhì chǎn pǐn.
    You can customize products according to your own needs.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

订dìngorder
制zhìmake

订 refers to ordering, and 制 refers to making, so the word means making something to order.

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 訂; 订 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng訂dìng
Same sound today

The traditional form 訂 combines 言, related to speech, with 丁, which gives the sound; the simplified 订 is a later shorthand.

Open 订 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The form 制 pairs 朱 (tree) with 刀 (knife), showing the act of cutting a tree.

Open 制 →
Appears in
Business & Commerce

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