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一定

yídìng

must

Usage note

一定用于表达确定性或强制性。例如,当你告诉孩子必须完成作业时,你会说‘你一定要做作业’。

yídìng yòng yù bǎo chū xuàn róng xìng huò zhuàng qiáng xìng.

一定 is used to express certainty or necessity. For example, when you tell a child they must finish their homework, you would say '你一定要做作业'.

Context note

一定常用于日常生活中,比如家长对孩子说的话或老师对学生的要求。

yídìng cháng yòng yú rì cháng shēn zhōng, bǐ如 jiàng zuò qí dào děi xiǎo ér de huān huà huò qīnshēn duì xué tute qiāo yāo.

一定 is commonly used in daily life, such as when parents speak to their children or teachers make requirements for students.

5 examples

一定要来参加。
nǐ yí dìng yào lái cān jiā。
You must come and participate.
一定会赢。
tā yí dìng huì yíng。
He will definitely win.
我们一定按时到校。
wǒ men yí dìng àn shí dào xiào。
We must arrive at school on time.
一定要早点回家。
nǐ yí dìng yào zǎo diǎn huí jiā。
You must go home early.
一定会来。
tā yí dìng huì lái。
He will definitely come.

5 mini stories

妈妈说,你一定不能吃太多糖。爸爸也说,你一定要多喝水。
mā mā shuō, nǐ yí dìng bù néng chī tài duō táng。 bà ba yě shuō, nǐ yí dìng yào duō hē shuǐ。
Mom said you must not eat too much candy. Dad also said you must drink more water.
老师告诉我们,每天一定都要做运动。
lǎo shī gào sù wǒ men, měi tiān yí dìng dū yào zuò yùn dòng。
The teacher told us that we must do exercise every day.
姐姐说,你一定要认真听讲。
jiě jie shuō, nǐ yí dìng yào rèn zhēn tīng jiǎng。
Sister said you must listen carefully.
爸爸说,我们一定不能迟到。
bà ba shuō, wǒ men yí dìng bù néng chí dào。
Dad said we must not be late.
妈妈说,你一定要早点睡觉。
mā ma shuō, nǐ yí dìng yào zǎo diǎn shuì jiào。
Mom said you must go to bed early.

Mini dialogue

记得带伞

A
明天一定会下雨吗?
Míngtiān yídìng huì xiàyǔ ma?
Will it definitely rain tomorrow?
B
一定,但是你一定要带伞。
Bù yídìng, dànshì nǐ yídìng yào dài sǎn.
Not necessarily, but you must bring an umbrella.

完成作业

A
我今天一定要完成作业。
Wǒ jīntiān yídìng yào wánchéng zuòyè.
I must finish my homework today.
B
加油,你一定可以!
Jiāyóu, nǐ yídìng kěyǐ!
You can do it, you definitely can!

Related words and contrasts

similar
必须
bìxū
must

一定 is more certain; 必须 is more about rules

similar
肯定
kěndìng
definitely

肯定 is often used for being sure about facts

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