设置

• Pinyin: shè zhì
• Hanzi breakdown: 设 = 讠(speech/plan) + 殳 (action) — to establish; 置 = 罒 (net) + 直 (straight) — to place in order

Meaning

To set up; to establish; to configure. Also a noun meaning settings or configuration.

In technology: configure settings (手机设置 — phone settings, 密码设置 — password settings). In broader use: establish or create (设置课程 — set up courses, 设置岗位 — create positions). Functions as both a verb and a noun.

Examples

1. 你可以在手机里设置闹钟提醒自己。 You can set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself.
2. 公司在每个部门都设置了安全负责人。 The company has set up a safety officer in every department.
3. 这个软件的设置界面很简单。 The settings interface of this software is very simple.

Usage Guide

Context: technology, organisation, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请把手机设置成静音模式。(Please set your phone to silent mode.)
• 这里设置了红绿灯，比以前安全多了。(A traffic light has been set up here — much safer than before.)

Don't Say

• 我设置了一本书在桌上 meaning 'I placed a book on the table' (设置 means to configure or establish systematically — for placing objects, use 放)

Origin & History

Compound of 设 (to set up, establish) and 置 (to place, arrange) — to set things in place.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal