制度化 (zhì dù huà) — (verb) to institutionalize, to systematize; (noun) institutionalization, systematization

Definition

A formal/literary word for turning a practice or rule into a fixed, ongoing system. Typically used in academic, political, or organizational writing rather than everyday speech.

verb
to institutionalizeto systematize
noun
institutionalizationsystematization

Examples

  • 制度化。
    Gōng sī xū yào zhì dù huà guǎn lǐ liú chéng.
    The company needs to institutionalize its management processes.
  • 制度化。
    zhì dù huà Shì tí gāo xiào lǜ de zhòng yào bù zhòu.
    Institutionalization is an important step toward improving efficiency.
  • 制度化。
    Zhè ge zhì dù yǐ jīng zhì dù huà le.
    This system has already been institutionalized.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

制度institution
制zhìregulation度dùstandard
联合Side by side
化huàmake

制度 refers to established rules; 化 gives the sense of making something follow them.

Characters in this word

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 →

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
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
石
石shí度dù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

度 has 又 (hand) and a changed form of 石; 石 gives a related sound, and the hand is tied to using the hand as a reference for measurement.

Open 度 →

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

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →

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