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verb / noun HSK 5
dìng wèi
to position · to locate · positioning · to define one's role

Meaning

定位 means to determine or establish a position, location, or role. It's commonly used in both physical contexts (like GPS positioning) and abstract contexts (like defining a brand's market position or one's personal role). The word combines 定 (to fix, establish) and 位 (position, place).

Usage

定位 is widely used in modern contexts like technology (GPS定位), business (市场定位 'market positioning'), and personal development (自我定位 'self-positioning'). It can function as both a verb ('to position') and a noun ('positioning'). Common in formal and technical registers.

Examples

  1. 01
    这个应用可以准确定位你的位置。
    Zhège yìng yòng kě yǐ zhǔn què dìng wèi nǐ de wèi zhì.
    This app can accurately locate your position.
  2. 02
    我们需要重新考虑公司的市场定位。
    Wǒ men xū yào chóng xīn kǎo lǜ gōng sī de shì chǎng dìng wèi.
    We need to reconsider the company's market positioning.

Characters

Measure words

  • 个gè一个定位

Common collocations

  • 市场定位
    shì chǎng dìng wèi
    market positioning
  • GPS定位
    GPS dìng wèi
    GPS positioning
  • 自我定位
    zì wǒ dìng wèi
    self-positioning
  • 准确定位
    zhǔn què dìng wèi
    accurate positioning

Origin

Formed from 定 (fix/determine) + 位 (position). The modern usage expanded with technology and business terminology in the late 20th century.

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