DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

定於一尊

简定于一尊 · 繁定於一尊

Mandarin · pinyin dìng yú yī zūn

(idiom) to rely on a single authority to determine what is correct
to regard a source (or entity or individual) as the ultimate authority

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Characters in this entry

定: dìng · decide, settle, fix
於: yú · yū · in, at, on; interjection alas!
一: yī · one; a, an; alone
尊: zūn · respect, revere, venerate; honor
于: yú · in, on, at; go to; surname

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4–2–1–1 · ding4 yu2 yi1 zun1

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

定於一尊 · find source passages ↗ · 定于一尊 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) to regard the supreme authority as the only standard

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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