How common it is
预订 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Pronunciation focus
Say yù dìng slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
预订是提前告诉别人你想要某个东西或服务。
Yùdìng shì tíqián gàosu biérén nǐ xiǎng yào mǒu gè dōngxi huò fúwù.
Reserve is to tell someone in advance that you want a certain thing or service.
Context note
我们常常预订酒店房间、餐厅座位或者电影票。
Wǒmen chángcháng yùdìng jiǔdiàn fángjiān, cāntīng zuòwèi huòzhě diànyǐng piào.
We often reserve hotel rooms, restaurant seats, or movie tickets.
5 examples
我预订了明天晚上的电影票。
wǒ yù dìng le míng tiān wǎn shàng de diàn yǐng piào。
I reserved movie tickets for tomorrow evening.
妈妈预订了一家餐厅的座位。
mā ma yù dìng le yì jiā cān tīng de zuò wèi。
Mom reserved a seat at a restaurant.
我们预订了去北京的火车票。
wǒ men yù dìng le qù běi jīng de huǒ chē piào。
We reserved train tickets to Beijing.
爸爸预订了一个酒店房间。
bà ba yù dìng le yí gè jiǔ diàn fáng jiān。
Dad reserved a hotel room.
我预订了图书馆的书。
wǒ yù dìng le tú shū guǎn de shū。
I reserved a book from the library.
5 mini stories
小红预订了生日蛋糕。她很高兴。
xiǎo hóng yù dìng le shēng rì dàn gāo。 tā hěn gāo xìng。
Xiao Hong reserved a birthday cake. She is very happy.
小明预订了游乐园的门票。他期待去玩。
xiǎo míng yù dìng le yóu lè yuán de mén piào。 tā qī dài qù wán。
Xiao Ming reserved tickets to the amusement park. He looks forward to going.
小丽预订了去海边的车票。她喜欢大海。
xiǎo lì yù dìng le qù hǎi biān de chē piào。 tā xǐ huan dà hǎi。
Xiao Li reserved tickets to the seaside. She likes the sea.
小刚预订了足球比赛的门票。他喜欢踢足球。
xiǎo gāng yù dìng le zú qiú bǐ sài de mén piào。 tā xǐ huan tī zú qiú。
Xiao Gang reserved tickets to the football game. He likes playing football.
小华预订了动物园的票。他想看熊猫。
xiǎo huá yù dìng le dòng wù yuán de piào。 tā xiǎng kàn xióng māo。
Xiao Hua reserved tickets to the zoo. He wants to see pandas.