订

• Pinyin: dìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 订 = 讠(speech) + 丁 (nail/fix)

Meaning

To book; to reserve; to order; to subscribe. Used for making reservations or placing orders in advance.

Versatile word used for booking hotels, reserving tickets, ordering meals, and subscribing to publications. Also appears in compounds like 订单 (order form) and 订阅 (subscribe).

Examples

1. 我已经订好了明天的机票。 I have already booked the plane tickets for tomorrow.
2. 你帮我订一个房间吧。 Can you book a room for me?
3. 她每个月都订一份杂志。 She subscribes to a magazine every month.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, shopping, services

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 我想订一张去上海的火车票。(I want to book a train ticket to Shanghai.)
• 你订了几点的餐厅？(What time did you book the restaurant for?)

Don't Say

• 我订了一个朋友来 (Don't use 订 for inviting people — it is for booking services or reserving things, not for summoning people)

Origin & History

The character 订 combines 讠(speech) and 丁 (nail, fix), conveying the idea of fixing an agreement through words — making a booking or contract.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal