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定做 (dìng zuò) — to custom-make; to have something made to order

Definition

定做 is the everyday verb for having something made to order (a suit, furniture, jewelry). 定制 is more formal and often used for products/services; 特制 emphasizes special design or production method.

verb
to custom-maketo have something made to order

Examples

  • 定做。
    Wǒ zài zhè jiā diàn dìng zuò le yí tào xī fú.
    I had a suit custom-made at this shop.
  • 定做。
    Tā men de jiā jù dōu shì dìng zuò de.
    Their furniture is all custom-made.
  • 定做。
    Gěi mā ma dìng zuò yì tiáo xiàng liàn zuò wéi shēng rì lǐ wù.
    Have a necklace custom-made for Mom as a birthday gift.

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.

定dìngfixed
做zuòmake

定 (fixed) and 做 (make) together mean make according to fixed requirements.

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
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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 做 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Industry & Manufacturing

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