定める|さだめるsadameru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto decide; to determine
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto establish; to lay down; to prescribe; to provide; to stipulate
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto bring peace (to); to make peaceful
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 定める（さだめる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 定めます（さだめます） |
| Negative (nai) | 定めない（さだめない） |
| polite (masen) | 定めません（さだめません） |
| classical zu / nu | 定めず・定めぬ（さだめず・さだめぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 定めた（さだめた） |
| polite (mashita) | 定めました（さだめました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 定めなかった（さだめなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 定めませんでした（さだめませんでした） |
| Te form | 定めて（さだめて） |
| Potential | 定められる（さだめられる） |
| Passive | 定められる（さだめられる） |
| Causative | 定めさせる（さだめさせる） |
| Causative passive | 定めさせられる（さだめさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 定めれば（さだめれば） |
| tara | 定めたら（さだめたら） |
| Volitional | 定めよう（さだめよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 定めましょう（さだめましょう） |
| Imperative | 定めろ（さだめろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
方針を定める
定まる describes a policy or direction becoming settled or decided on its own (focus on the resulting state), while 定める describes someone actively deciding or establishing it (focus on the agent's action).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym制定せいていNeutralNoun for the formal enactment of laws (「憲法の制定」); used when a law is officially made.
- Related確立かくりつNeutralNoun for firmly establishing something (「地位を確立する」); the emphasis is on building it up solidly, while 「定める」 is about deciding or prescribing.
- Related設定せっていNeutralNoun for setting something (「目標を設定する」「初期設定」); used for setting targets, conditions, parameters and the like.
- Related樹立じゅりつWrittenFormal written noun for establishing a regime or setting a record (「新記録を樹立する」).
- Related設けるもうけるNeutralVerb for setting up organizations or rules (「規則を設ける」); the emphasis is on the act of setting something up.
- Antonym変えるかえるNeutralMeans to change; what has been fixed can be changed again. It opposes 「定める」 only in fixing versus changing, not as a strict antonym.
- Antonym廃するはいするWrittenWritten and rather stiff verb meaning to abolish; it stands opposite to 「定める」 as the act of laying rules down.
Use 「定める」 for deciding, prescribing, or bringing stability (「法律で定める」「狙いを定める」). For formal enactment say 「制定」, for setting parameters 「設定」, for firm establishment 「確立」; the opposite is 「廃する」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
