Definitions

dīng (numeral) fourth in order
dīng (noun) fourth heavenly stem
dīng (noun) cube (of food)

Etymology

In ancient scripts was written in two different ways: (1) depicting the walls of a city, which is now written as , or (2) depicting a nail, which is now written as .

About

The character "丁" derives from an early pictograph representing a nail, with its modern form stabilized as a simple two-stroke structure comprising a horizontal line and a vertical hook. This original sense as a nail provided the basis for its adoption as the fourth heavenly stem in the traditional cyclical system. Over time, its meaning extended to refer to an adult male, often within contexts of labor or census, and by further extension came to signify people or population in compound terms. While itself an indivisible unit, "丁" frequently acts as a phonetic or semantic component in the formation of other characters.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

是我的朋友。

Xiǎo Dīng shì wǒ de péngyou.

Xiao Ding is my friend.

照顾这些树。

Yuándīng zhàogù zhèxiē shù.

The gardener takes care of these trees.

我喜欢香的味道。

Wǒ xǐhuān dīngxiāng de wèidao.

I like the scent of lilacs.

克家庭选择不要孩子。

Dīngkè jiātíng xuǎnzé bú yào háizi.

DINK families choose not to have children.

字路口很容易迷路。

Dīngzì lùkǒu hěn róngyì mílù.

It's easy to get lost at the T-junction.

老师今天没来上课。

Dīng lǎoshī jīntiān méi lái shàngkè.

Teacher Ding did not come to class today.

电脑系统安装了新补

Diànnǎo xìtǒng ānzhuāng le xīn bǔdīng.

The computer system installed a new patch.

远处传来当当的声音。

Yuǎnchù chuánlái dīngdīngdāngdāng de shēngyīn.

The sound of clinking came from afar.