暂定 (zàn dìng) — to tentatively set, to temporarily decide | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

暂定 means 'tentatively set' — a decision is made provisionally and expected to change later. Pairs with 为 to specify what is decided (e.g. 时间暂定为下周三).

verb

to tentatively setto temporarily decide

Examples

暂定。
Huì yì shí jiān zàn dìng wéi xià zhōu sān.
The meeting time is tentatively set for next Wednesday.
暂定，。
Wǒ men zàn dìng zhè ge fāng àn, yǐ hòu zài tiáo zhěng.
We'll tentatively adopt this plan and adjust it later.
暂定。
zàn dìng Míng dān yǐ jīng gōng bù le.
The tentative list has been announced.

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.

暂zàntemporary

暂 conveys temporary, and 定 conveys setting, so the arrangement is provisional.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 暫; 暂 is its simplified writing.

斬日暫

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

斬

斬zhǎn暫zàn

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 暫 has 日 (day) for the meaning and 斬 (zhǎn) for the sound; the simplified 暂 is a later shorthand.

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.

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