Chinese word

淡定

Pronunciation

Pinyindàn dìng

Meaning

  • adjectivecalm

Example

他遇到问题也很淡定。tā yù dào wèn tí yě hěn dàn dìng

He stays calm even when he runs into problems.

Illustration for 淡定 (calm)

More examples

她在面试时表现得很淡定。tā zài miàn shì shí biǎo xiàn de hěn dàn dìng

She stayed very calm during the interview.

Core concept

A steady state that stays calm when trouble or noise appears.

Common phrases

  • 很淡定hěn dàn dìng

    very calm

  • 保持淡定bǎo chí dàn dìng

    stay calm

  • 看起来很淡定kàn qǐ lái hěn dàn dìng

    look very calm

Similar words

冷静lěng jìng: Stays calm and clear-minded instead of letting feelings control a response.
沉着chén zhuó: Faces pressure or unexpected events with steady self-control and no panic.
镇定zhèn dìng: Maintains inner calm and avoids becoming shaken by a tense situation.
平静píng jìng: Describes stillness and calm in a place, atmosphere, or person's mind.

Definition in Chinese

形容态度或表情平静、不焦躁，给人镇定自若的感觉。xíng róng tài dù huò biǎo qíng píng jìng bù jiāo zào gěi rén zhèn dìng zì ruò de gǎn jué

Word origin

淡 (dàn, "light or mild") + 定 (dìng, "settled") creates the image of reactions that remain mild and settled instead of becoming agitated.

Usage tips

  • In casual speech, 淡定 (dàndìng, "calm") can sound playful or teasing when someone stays unusually calm, so tone and context matter.

Other meanings

  • composedadjective
  • unperturbedadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 淡定自若dàn dìng zì ruòcalm and composedidiom

Word lists with this word