Kilo Lingo

(yí dìng) - certainly, definitely, must in Mandarin

dìng

Traditional: 一定

Line drawing of 一定
Coloured illustration of 一定
HSK 2
#139 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

certainly, definitely, must

Word origin

A compound of 一 (yī, 'one') and 定 (dìng, 'to fix, settle'), so 'fixed as one, for certain'. 定 combines 宀 (mián, 'roof') with 正/疋 below, suggesting settling within a house.

Origin
compound
Root
一 (yī, 'one') + 定 (dìng, 'to settle, fix')

Stroke order

Stroke order for 一

Stroke order for 定

Examples

I will definitely go.

You must come.

This must be his.

I must definitely get up early tomorrow.

shǒu

I will definitely keep the promise.

一定 (yí dìng) means certainly, definitely, must. It is used as a adverb in everyday Mandarin speech.

Used in

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This word is part of lesson 3.