Definition
订 (dìng) is a versatile verb covering ordering, booking, subscribing, and drawing up. It's more general than 预订 (yù dìng 'reserve in advance'), 订阅 (dìng yuè 'subscribe to publications'), and 订立 (dìng lì 'formally conclude a contract'). Use 订 for everyday ordering/booking; the others are more specific.
verb
to order (goods, tickets, food, etc.)to bookto subscribe to (a newspaper, magazine)to draw up (a contract, agreement)
Easily confused
- 打dǎlook-aliketo hit, strike, beat
- 定dìngsound-aliketo set, to determine, to fix (a time, plan, rule, etc.)
- 钉dìnglook-aliketo nail, to pin, to staple (fasten by driving a pointed object)
- 顶dǐngsound-alike(noun) top, apex, crown of the head
- 可kělook-alike(adverb) used for emphasis: really, certainly, very
- 丁dīngsound-alikefourth in a series (grade D, fourth Heavenly Stem, etc.)
- 盯dīnglook-aliketo stare at, to fix one's attention on, to gaze at
Examples
- 订。Wǒ xiǎng dìng yí gè fángjiān.I'd like to book a room.
- 订。Tā dìng le sān zhāng huǒchē piào.He booked three train tickets.
- 订。Tāmen dìng le yí gè xuéxí jìhuà.They drew up a study plan.
Browse more HSK 4 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.