定 - Dong Chinese dictionary

dìng

settle

Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 正 represents the sound.

Components

宀 Meaning component

mián

roof

正 Sound component

zhèng, zhēng

correct

定 and 正 don't sound similar in modern Mandarin due to historical phonetic changes. They were more similar in older Chinese.定 /*N-tˤeŋ-s/, /*m-tˤeŋ-s/, /*tˤeŋ-s/
正 /*C.teŋ/, /*teŋ-s/

Evolution

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze script

Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Regular script

Modern

Definitions

定

dìng

decide, settle, fix; to set; to fix; to determine; to decide; to order

Most common words with 定

Freq.	Word	Meaning
	一定	surely
	肯定	to be certain
	决定	to resolve
	确定	definite
	定	to set

Component uses

Sound component in 9 characters (0 verified)

綻绽淀錠锭啶碇靛腚

Historical pronunciation

Old Chinese	Middle Chinese	Pinyin	Gloss
*N-tˤeŋ-s	dengH	dìng	become fixed; settled (v.i.)
*m-tˤeŋ-s	dengH	dìng	make fixed, settle (v.t.)
*tˤeŋ-s	tengH	dìng	ready-cooked (food)