Understanding "固定" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 固定
• Pinyin: gùdìng
• Literal Meaning: “firm / solid” + “settle / fix”
• Primary Meaning: to fix something in place; fixed, regular, or stable

2. In-depth Explanation

• Context and Usage: 固定 is a very common word for both physical and abstract “fixedness.” As a verb, it means to fasten, secure, or set something so it does not move or change—for example, fixing a shelf to a wall or setting a meeting time. As an adjective, it describes something regular, stable, or unchanging, such as a fixed salary, a regular schedule, or a permanent address. The tone is neutral and practical rather than emotional. Learners should notice the difference between 固定 (make or keep something fixed) and words like 决定 (decide) or 安排 (arrange): 固定 stresses that the result stays put and does not keep changing.
• Character Breakdown: 固 (gù) means solid, firm, or hard to change, as in ideas of strength and stability. 定 (dìng) means to settle, fix, or make certain. Together they reinforce the idea of making something firm and settled, whether that is an object, a time, a price, or a habit.

3. Example Sentences

• Chinese: 请把架子固定在墙上。
• Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ jiàzi gùdìng zài qiáng shang.

• English: Please fix the shelf to the wall.

• Chinese: 他有一份固定的收入。

• Pinyin: Tā yǒu yí fèn gùdìng de shōurù.

• English: He has a regular, stable income.

• Chinese: 我们把上课时间固定在每周一。

• Pinyin: Wǒmen bǎ shàngkè shíjiān gùdìng zài měi zhōu yī.
• English: We set the class time for every Monday.

Cultural Notes (if applicable)

In everyday and business Chinese, 固定 often signals reliability. A 固定工作 is a steady job, 固定电话 is a landline (as opposed to a mobile phone), and 固定资产 means fixed assets in accounting. People may also talk about a 固定的习惯, a settled habit. The word does not carry a strong traditional or literary flavor; it is practical language used in homes, schools, offices, and contracts whenever stability matters more than flexibility.

Conclusion

Remember 固定 as “firm + settled”: use it when something is fastened in place or kept regular and unchanged. If it can be screwed down, scheduled, or relied on week after week, 固定 is often the right word.

Sources and Further Reading

• MDBG Chinese Dictionary: 固定
• Wiktionary: 固定
• HSK vocabulary reference dataset

Dictionary links are provided for independent reference. Example sentences and learning notes on this page are educational explanations rather than dictionary quotations.