定为

• Pinyin: dìng wéi
• Hanzi breakdown: 定 = 宀 + 正 (to determine, decide); 为 = simplified from 爲 (to act as, to be — originally depicting an elephant being led)

Meaning

To designate as; to determine to be; to officially classify or categorise something as a specific type, status, or category.

Formal administrative and legal language used when authorities assign a category, status, or label to something or someone. Frequently appears in legal rulings, policy documents, official classifications, and government announcements.

Examples

1. 该地区被政府定为国家级自然保护区，严禁任何形式的商业开发活动。 The government designated the area as a national nature reserve, strictly prohibiting any form of commercial development.
2. 法院将此次事故定为重大责任事故，相关人员将依法被追究刑事责任。 The court classified the incident as a major liability accident, and those involved will be held criminally responsible according to law.
3. 这栋建筑被文物部门定为历史文化遗产，须受到严格保护与修缮管理。 Cultural heritage authorities designated this building as a historical and cultural site, requiring strict protection and restoration management.

Usage Guide

Context: law, administration, policy, official classification

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 该区域已被规划部门正式定为商业用地，未来将引入大型综合体项目。(The area has been officially designated as commercial land by the planning authority; large mixed-use development projects will be introduced in the future.)
• 教育局将这所学校定为重点帮扶对象，计划在三年内大幅改善其办学条件。(The education bureau has designated this school as a priority support target, with plans to significantly improve its teaching conditions within three years.)

Don't Say

• 我把他定为坏人 — use 我认为他是坏人 or 我判断他是不良分子 in informal contexts; 定为 requires official or institutional authority to sound natural

Origin & History

定 (determine/fix) + 为 (as/to be)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal