定 (Define) - Meaning and history | Japanese Kanji
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3 min reading time
定
Kun readings 🇯🇵
On readings 🇨🇳
The kanji 定 means define, determine, establish, decide.
The kanji 定 is used in many words to define a decision, role, outcome, hypothesis, or plan.
In this post we learn more about the meaning of 定, its origin, and how it is used through real example sentences.
Origin of the kanji 定
The kanji 定 originates from and is composed of the following kanji:
止: kanji which means
to stop龰: radical which also derives from the kanji 止
宀: radical of the
roof
What does kanji mean 定
The kanji 定 is related to the concept of decision and planning.
The kanji is in fact present in many words that indicate an action plan, a decision taken, or an assigned role.
Among the most common words are:
予定:
plan,program否定:
negation肯定:
affirmation,affirmative想定:
hypothesis
Kanji readings 定
Let's now see the various On and Kun readings that the kanji 定 assumes.
Kun readings of the kanji 定 🇯🇵
さだ
The only Kun reading of the kanji 定 is さだ. This reading is used when the kanji indicates the concept of deciding and decision. Some terms that use the さだ reading are:
定める:
decide定か:
definite,sure
The term 定める for the verb to decide is not very common. There are more used terms such as 決める
On readings of the kanji 定 🇨🇳
てい
てい is the most common pronunciation for the kanji 定. As we have seen, this pronunciation is used in words that contain the kanji 定 such as:
決定:
decision,determination判定:
verdict,judgment査定:
revision,assessment
じょう
じょう is another, less common reading of the kanji 定. It is used in words like:
一定:
fixed,constant勘定:
computation,count
Examples of the kanji 定
そのように定められている。
It was decided this way.
まるで最初からそう定められていたみたいだった。
It seemed like it was completely decided this way from the start.
お前は私が言うことを否定するのか？
Are you denying what I said?
肯定しても否定しても殺される。
Whether I approve or deny I will be killed .
