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镇定
zhèn dìng
calm
地震发生时，他镇定地指挥大家疏散。
When the earthquake happened, he calmly directed everyone to evacuate.
neutral
calm and composed, not agitated or panicked
面对突发情况，她表现得非常镇定。
She remained very calm in the face of the sudden situation.
警察镇定地处理了这场骚乱。
The police handled the riot calmly.
Often used to describe someone's demeanor in stressful situations.
neutral
to calm down or settle oneself
深呼吸可以帮助你镇定下来。
Deep breathing can help you calm down.
Used as a verb, often followed by '下来' (xiàlái).
Pro Tip
Common Usage in Context
Use '镇定' to describe someone who remains calm under pressure. For example, '他在考试前很镇定' (He was very calm before the exam).
Gold Rule
Adjective vs. Verb
As an adjective, '镇定' describes a state (e.g., '他很镇定'). As a verb, it describes the action of calming down (e.g., '他镇定下来').
Word Origin
The word '镇定' is a compound of '镇' (zhèn, meaning 'to suppress' or 'to calm') and '定' (dìng, meaning 'stable' or 'fixed'). It first appeared in classical Chinese texts, where it described the act of calming or suppressing disturbances. Over time, it evolved to describe a person's mental state of being calm and composed.
Usage Notes
1. '镇定' is often used to describe a person's mental state during stressful situations. It emphasizes self-control and composure. 2. As a verb, it is usually followed by '下来' (e.g., '镇定下来') to indicate the process of calming oneself. 3. In modern usage, it is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese.
Word Breakdown
镇
to suppress or calm
root定
stable or fixed
root汉英词典