Definition
丁 is a versatile character with several distinct noun meanings. Most commonly, it functions as the fourth item in a series (like the 'D' in A-B-C-D) — it's the fourth of the ten Heavenly Stems, and you'll see it in grading systems (甲/乙/丙/丁) and in compound words like 丁烷 (butane, a four-carbon compound). In cooking, 丁 refers to small cube-shaped pieces of food (切成丁 'cut into dices'). It's also a common surname (姓丁). The literary verb sense 'to encounter' is archaic and rarely used.
noun
fourth in a series (grade D, fourth Heavenly Stem, etc.)small cube or dice (of food, especially meat or vegetables)
Easily confused
- 争zhēnglook-aliketo contend / to strive for / to vie for
- 定dìngsound-aliketo set, to determine, to fix (a time, plan, rule, etc.)
- 盯dīngsound-aliketo stare at, to fix one's attention on, to gaze at
- 顶dǐngsound-alike(noun) top, apex, crown of the head
- 订dìngsound-aliketo order (goods, tickets, food, etc.), to book
- 钉dìngsound-aliketo nail, to pin, to staple (fasten by driving a pointed object)
Examples
- 丁。Chúshī bǎi bǎ tǔdòu qiē chéng xiǎo dīng.The chef cut the potatoes into small cubes.
- 丁。Tā zài gāngqín píngjí zhōng dé le dīng děng.He got a D grade in the piano rating.
- 丁。Tā bǎ húluóbo qiē chéng xiǎo dīng.He cut the carrots into small cubes.
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