Definition
设 has two main uses: (1) 'to set up, establish' — like setting up a company or a table; (2) in math/logic, 'suppose, given' (e.g., 设 x = 5). Unlike 假设 (jiǎshè, 'to assume/hypothesize'), 设 in math is a neutral given condition, not a conjecture. 一定 (yídìng) means 'certainly, must' and is unrelated.
verb
to set upto establish(math.) supposegiven
Easily confused
- 段duànlook-alike(classifier) used for sections of time, text, road, or stages of a process; segment, paragraph, stretch
- 射shèsound-aliketo shoot (an arrow, bullet, etc.)
- 毁huǐlook-aliketo defame, to slander
- 蛇shésound-alikesnake
- 投tóulook-aliketo throw, to cast (a vote, a glance)
- 折shésound-aliketo snap, to break (of long thin objects like sticks, bones, pencils)
- 股gǔlook-alike(classifier) for long winding things (rope, river, strand)
- 社shèsound-alike(bound form) society, organization, agency (used in many compounds)
Examples
- 设。Tā zài Shànghǎi shè le yì jiā fēn gōngsī.He set up a branch company in Shanghai.
- 设x5，。Wǒmen shè x wéi wǔ, ránhòu jìsuàn.We suppose x is 5, then calculate.
- 设。Tā zài kètīng lǐ shè le yí ge shūjià.He set up a bookshelf in the living room.
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