(dǐng) — (noun) top, apex, crown of the head; (verb) to carry on the head; to withstand; to go against; to replace; to bump (a forum thread); (classifier) for headwear (hats, caps, veils, etc.)

Definition

As a verb 顶 often means 'to withstand' or 'to go against' — weaker than 违背 (deliberate rule-violation) and less directional than 逆. As a noun 'top/crown'; the classifier uses 一顶 for hats and headwear.

noun
topapexcrown of the head
verb
to carry on the headto withstandto go againstto replaceto bump (a forum thread)
classifier
for headwear (hats, caps, veils, etc.)

Examples

  • Wǒ men zhōng yú pá dào le shān dǐng.
    We finally climbed to the top of the mountain.
  • Tā dǐng zhù le suǒ yǒu de yā lì.
    He withstood all the pressure.
  • Tā mǎi le yì dǐng piào liang de mào zi.
    He bought a beautiful hat.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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 頂; 顶 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
head
Sound part声符shēngfú
dīngdǐng
Same sound today

The traditional form 頂 pairs 頁, meaning head, with 丁, which supplies the sound; the simplified 顶 is a later abbreviation.

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