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定格 (dìng gē) — (film/photography) freeze frame, stop motion; (figurative) to fix (a moment) in time, to crystallize in memory

Definition

A verb meaning to freeze a single moment — literally a 'freeze frame' in film/photography, and figuratively to fix a moment in memory. Translates as 'freeze frame' rather than 'stop motion' (which is the broader animation technique).

verb
(film/photography) freeze framestop motion(figurative) to fix (a moment) in timeto crystallize in memory

Examples

  • 定格。
    Dǎo yǎn yòng le yí gè dìng gē jìng tóu lái jié shù zhè bù diàn yǐng.
    The director used a freeze-frame shot to end this film.
  • 定格。
    Zhè bù dòng huà piàn shì yòng dìng gē jì shù pāi shè de.
    This animated film was made using stop-motion technology.
  • 定格。
    Nà ge wēi xiào yǒng yuǎn dìng gē zài wǒ de jì yì lǐ.
    That smile is forever frozen in my memory.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

定dìngfix
格géframe

Fixing one frame freezes motion into a still image.

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 →

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
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè格gé
Same sound today

格 is built from 木 (wood) on the left and 各 on the right, which gives the sound.

Open 格 →
Appears in
Film & TheaterPhotography & Design

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