定单 (dìng dān) — order (for goods or services)

Definition

定单 means an order (for goods or services), especially one already placed. The very common written form is 订单.

noun

order (for goods or services)

Measure word · 份

Easily confused

定单。
Wǒ xià le yí gè dìng dān.
I placed an order.
定单。
Qǐng què rèn nín shōu dào de dìng dān.
Please confirm the order you received.
定单。
Zhè dìng dān shì zuó tiān xià de.
This order was placed yesterday.

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dìngorder/fix

单dānlist/bill

定 (order/fix) specifies 单 (list/bill), giving an order document.

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

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.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 單; 单 is its simplified writing.

The form 單 originally pictured a Y-shaped wooden stick with two stones on top.