定
determine · fix · establish · decide
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of roof and correct. Deciding correctly under roof.
Symbolism
Decision, stability, determine. Represents deciding.
Spiritual Meaning
One of Buddhism's "Three Trainings" (precepts, concentration, wisdom). Samādhi—concentrating mind on one point—is the path to enlightenment.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
杓子定規
しゃくしじょうぎ
strict; hidebound; inflexible
安定成長
あんていせいちょう
stable growth
老少不定
ろうしょうふてい
death comes to old and young alike; uncertainty of life
会者定離
えしゃじょうり
those who meet must part (suggesting the transient nature of this life); we meet only to part
百舌勘定
もずかんじょう
splitting the bill so that the others end up paying the whole amount; wheedling the others into paying the whole bill
兵隊勘定
へいたいかんじょう
Dutch treat; going Dutch
Proverbs & Idioms
定めし無い世の習い
さだめしないよのならい
The way of an uncertain world
Life is unpredictable and nothing is guaranteed
Anime & Manga
転生貴族、鑑定スキルで成り上がる
As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World
A well-known work with 定 in its Japanese title.
不遇職【鑑定士】が実は最強だった～奈落で鍛えた最強の【神眼】で無双する～
Even Given the Worthless “Appraiser” Class, I’m Actually the Strongest
A well-known work with 定 in its Japanese title.
ヘルモード ～やり込み好きのゲーマーは廃設定の異世界で無双する～
HELL MODE: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing
A well-known work with 定 in its Japanese title.
没落予定の貴族だけど、暇だったから魔法を極めてみた
I’m a Noble on the Brink of Ruin, So I Might as Well Try Mastering Magic
A well-known work with 定 in its Japanese title.
テンカイチ 日本最強武芸者決定戦
Tenkaichi: The Greatest Warrior Under the Rising Sun
A well-known work with 定 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
徳川家定
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Tokugawa Iesada was a Japanese samurai, daimyo and the 13th shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan.
Wikipedia藤原定家
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Fujiwara no Sadaie or Teika was a Japanese anthologist, calligrapher, literary critic, novelist, poet, and scribe of the late Heian and early…
Wikipedia阿部定
Name contains 定
Sada Abe was a Japanese geisha and prostitute who murdered her lover, Kichizō Ishida , via strangulation on May 18, 1936, before cutting off his…
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Matsudaira Sadanobu was a Japanese daimyō of the mid-Edo period, famous for his financial reforms which saved the Shirakawa Domain , and similar…
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“establish”
“decide”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 定 mean in Japanese?
定 means determine, fix, establish, decide.
How do you read 定?
On'yomi: テイ、ジョウ (TEI, JOU). Kun'yomi: さだ.める、さだ.まる、さだ.か (sadameru, sadamaru, sadaka).
How many strokes does 定 have?
定 has 8 strokes. Its radical is 宀 (roof).
Is 定 a good kanji for a tattoo?
定 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means determine, fix, establish, decide. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.