咬定 (yǎo dìng) — to assert emphatically, to insist (often stubbornly)

Definition

Used when someone firmly asserts a position or fact and refuses to back down. Often implies stubbornness, not just confidence — closer to 'insist (stubbornly)' than a neutral 'claim'.

verb
to assert emphaticallyto insist (often stubbornly)

Examples

  • 咬定。
    Tā yǎo dìng zhè jiàn shì bú shì tā zuò de.
    He insisted that he didn't do it.
  • 咬定。
    Jǐng fāng yǎo dìng xián yí rén jiù shì xiōng shǒu.
    The police asserted emphatically that the suspect is the murderer.
  • 咬定，。
    Tā yǎo dìng mù biāo, yí dìng yào kǎo dào dì yī míng.
    She set her mind on the goal and insisted on getting first place.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

咬yǎobite
定dìngfirm

咬 (bite) and 定 (firm) suggest biting down firmly and insisting.

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
交
交jiāo咬yǎo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

咬 is built from 口, meaning mouth, and 交, which gives the sound.

Open 咬 →

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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