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Kotomora

定

determine, fix, establish, decide

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 100Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • テイ
  • ジョウ

Kun'yomi

  • さだ.める
  • さだ.まる
  • さだ.か

Nanori

  • さた

Meaning

定 centers on making something firm and settled: determining a course, fixing a value, establishing a rule, or deciding an outcome. All its meanings share the idea of bringing something from an unsettled state into a stable, definite one.

Most common words using 定

24 of 1,245
  • 予定よてい
    N4

    plans; arrangement; schedule; program; programme; expectation; estimate

  • 設定せってい
    N2

    establishment; creation; posing (a problem); setting (movie, novel, etc.); scene

  • 限定げんてい
    N1

    limit; restriction

  • 決定けってい
    N3

    decision; determination

  • 指定してい
    N3

    designation; specification; assignment; appointment; pointing at

  • 特定とくてい
    N2

    specific; particular; designated; special

  • 安定あんてい
    N3

    stability; steadiness; consistency; equilibrium; balance; composure

  • 定期ていき
    N3

    fixed period; fixed term

  • 固定こてい
    N1

    fixing (in place); being fixed (in place); securing; anchoring; fastening down

  • 確定かくてい
    N2

    decision; settlement; confirmation; establishment

  • 認定にんてい

    authorization; authorisation; acknowledgment; acknowledgement; certification; recognition

  • 否定ひてい
    N3

    denial; negation; repudiation; disavowal

  • 一定いってい
    N3

    to fix; to settle; to standardize; to regularize

  • 規定きてい
    N1

    stipulation; prescription; provision; regulation; rule

  • 定義ていぎ
    N1

    definition

  • 想定そうてい
    N1

    hypothesis; supposition; assumption; expectation; anticipation

  • 判定はんてい
    N1

    judgement; judgment; decision; ruling; finding; adjudication; verdict; call

  • 測定そくてい
    N2

    measurement

  • 定着ていちゃく
    N2

    sticking (in one place, position, etc.); settling; fixing; adherence

  • 不安定ふあんてい
    N3

    instability; insecurity; crankiness

  • 協定きょうてい
    N1

    arrangement; pact; agreement

  • 定番ていばん

    standard item; usual thing; (a) classic; go-to choice; staple; regular fixture; standard procedure; convention

  • 推定すいてい
    N2

    presumption; assumption

  • 鑑定かんてい
    N1

    judgement; judgment; expert opinion; appraisal

Explore all words using 定 →

Study

Etymology

定 combines 宀 (roof, house) with a lower element that is a simplified form of 正 (correct, straight). The idea is of something being set straight or made correct under a roof, hence 'determine, fix, establish'.

Meaning mnemonic

Under a roof (宀), a carpenter uses a level to make sure everything is straight and fixed in place. That act of setting things right is 定: to determine, fix, and establish.

Reading mnemonic

For テイ, imagine a table (テーブル, tēburu) being fixed firmly in place under the roof. The 'tei' sound from 'table' (テイ) helps you remember the reading.