TongTong
Sign in

规定 (guī dìng) — (verb) to stipulate, to prescribe, to set (a price, quota, rule); (noun) regulation, rule, provision

Definition

Both a verb ('to stipulate / prescribe') and the noun for a written rule or regulation. Use 规定 for formal written rules; 规则 is more like a pattern or game rule, while 规章/条例 are more official documents.

verb
to stipulateto prescribeto set (a price, quota, rule)
noun
regulationruleprovision

Examples

  • 规定。
    Gōng sī guī dìng yuán gōng jiǔ diǎn shàng bān.
    The company stipulates that employees start work at nine o'clock.
  • 规定。
    Xīn de guī dìng yǐ jīng kāi shǐ zhí xíng le.
    The new regulations have already been put into effect.
  • 规定，。
    Zhè ge guī dìng hěn zhòng yào, dà jiā dōu yào zūn shǒu.
    This rule is very important; everyone must follow it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

规guīset standard
定dìngfix

Both 规 and 定 carry the idea of setting a standard or fixing a rule, so 规定 means to specify or the rules specified.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 規; 规 is its simplified writing.

  • 夫夫fūhusband
  • 見見jiànsee

The simplified 规 is a shorthand; the traditional form 規 shows a cross-shaped compass in its early drawing, and its later form uses 夫 and 見.

Open 规 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Abstract ConceptsOrder & Arrangement3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 4 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.