笃定 (dǔ dìng) — calm and composed, without anxiety; to be certain, to be sure; definitely

Definition

笃定 blends two ideas: being calm and self-assured (about an outcome) and being certain it will happen. It often carries a confident, assured tone — stronger than just 'sure' and steadier than merely 'calm'.

verb
calm and composedwithout anxietyto be certainto be suredefinitely

Examples

  • ，笃定。
    Kǎo shì qián tā yì diǎn dōu bù jǐn zhāng, fēi cháng dǔ dìng.
    He wasn't nervous at all before the exam, very calm and collected.
  • ，笃定。
    Zhè zhǒng shì tā jiàn duō le, suǒ yǐ hěn dǔ dìng.
    He's seen this kind of thing many times, so he's very sure of himself.
  • ，笃定。
    Fàng xīn, zhè jiàn shì wǒ dǔ dìng néng bàn hǎo.
    Don't worry, I can definitely handle this matter.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

笃dǔfirm
定dìngsettled

笃 conveys firmness, and 定 conveys settledness, together giving a calm and certain sense.

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 篤; 笃 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎhorse
Sound part声符shēngfú
竹
竹zhú篤dǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 篤 pairs 馬 (horse) with 竹 for sound; this is about 篤, not about the simplified 笃.

Open 笃 →

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 →

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