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安定 (ān dìng) — (adjective) stable, calm, settled; (verb) to stabilize, to calm down

Definition

Both an adjective ('stable, calm, settled') and a verb ('to stabilize, to calm down'), often paired with 下来 for the verb sense. Compared with 稳定, 安定 leans toward social/order/mental calm, while 稳定 leans toward physical or structural steadiness.

adjective
stablecalmsettled
verb
to stabilizeto calm down

Examples

  • 安定。
    Zhè ge dì qū yì zhí hěn ān dìng.
    This region has always been very stable.
  • ，安定。
    Tā shēn xī yì kǒu qì, ràng zì jǐ ān dìng xià lái.
    He took a deep breath to calm himself down.
  • 安定。
    ān dìng Tuán jié shì shè huì fā zhǎn de jī chǔ.
    Stability and unity are the foundation of social development.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

安ānstable
定dìngsettled

安 and 定 both mean stable or settled, together describing calmness or stability.

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
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ安ān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 安, 宀 sits above a seated 女 on a cushion; 宀 is the meaning part, 女 is the sound part, and the character originally meant sitting at ease.

Open 安 →

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 7-9Abstract ConceptsEmotions & Feelings

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