选定 (xuǎn dìng) — to select, to designate

Definition

选定 means to select or designate after a deliberate decision — stronger than 选 (xuǎn), which is the plain verb 'to choose'. It implies a finalized pick, often in formal contexts (plans, candidates, projects).

verb
to selectto designate

Examples

  • ，选定。
    Jīng guò tǎo lùn, wǒ men xuǎn dìng le zhè ge fāng àn.
    After discussion, we selected this plan.
  • 选定。
    Gōng sī xuǎn dìng tā dān rèn xīn xiàng mù de fù zé rén.
    The company designated him as the person in charge of the new project.
  • 。
    Qǐng cóng míng dān zhōng xuǎn dìng sān wèi hòu xuǎn rén.
    Please select three candidates from the list.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

选xuǎnchoose
定dìngsettle

选 choose and 定 settle combine to mean select and fix.

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 選; 选 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
巽
巽xùn選xuǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 選 combines 止 with 巽, which gives the sound xùn; its sense of choosing is explained as rejecting or sending someone back. Simplified 选 is a shorthand.

Open 选 →

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 →

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