裁定
Rule or Find (Court)
裁定 (coi4 ding6) is a formal legal term used when a court or judge makes an official ruling or finding of fact, such as finding a defendant guilty or dismissing a charge.
How It Works
裁定 (coi4 ding6) is a high-register term essential for understanding formal Cantonese media and legal proceedings. Unlike general words for 'decide,' it carries the weight of law and evidence.
1. Syntactic Structure
It typically follows the pattern: [Authority] + 裁定 + [Subject/Charge] + [Result].
Example: 法庭裁定罪名成立 (The court ruled the charge is established).
2. Passive Usage
In news reporting, it is very common to see the defendant as the subject: [Defendant] + 被 (bei6) + 裁定 + [Result].
Example: 佢被裁定謀殺罪成 (He was found guilty of murder).
3. Specificity in Law
While often translated as 'rule,' in the Hong Kong legal system, it specifically refers to a finding. A judge might 裁定 that a piece of evidence is admissible or 裁定 that a defendant has a case to answer. It is distinct from the final sentencing or the overall judgment of the case (判決 pun3 kyut3).
4. Register Note
This word is strictly for formal contexts. Using it for personal decisions (like what to eat for dinner) would sound extremely strange or mock-heroic to a native speaker.
Examples (4)
- 法庭裁定被告謀殺罪名不成立。
The court ruled that the murder charge against the defendant was not established.
Word by Word: Court rule defendant murder crime name not establish.
This shows the standard formal structure where the court (法庭 faat3 ting4) is the authority making the ruling.
- 由於證據不足，裁判官裁定撤銷所有控罪。
Due to insufficient evidence, the magistrate ruled to dismiss all charges.
Word by Word: Due to evidence not enough, magistrate rule dismiss all charges.
Here, 裁定 is used by a magistrate (裁判官 coi4 pun3 gun1) to deliver a procedural ruling.
- 佢因為提供假證供，被裁定藐視法庭。
He was found in contempt of court for providing false testimony.
Word by Word: He because provide false testimony, was ruled contempt court.
This example demonstrates the common passive construction using 被 (bei6) to indicate the result of the ruling for the individual.
- 法官裁定呢件證物可以呈堂。
The judge ruled that this piece of evidence can be presented in court.
Word by Word: Judge rule this piece evidence can present court.
裁定 is used here for a specific ruling on the admissibility of evidence during a trial.
Common Mistakes
Using 裁定 for personal or casual decisions.
我裁定聽日去行山。我決定聽日去行山。裁定 (coi4 ding6) is only for legal or official authorities. For personal decisions, use 決定 (kyut3 ding6).
Confusing 裁定 with the final sentencing.
法官裁定被告入獄十年。法官判處被告入獄十年。裁定 refers to the 'finding' or 'ruling' (e.g., guilty/not guilty). The act of sentencing someone to a specific punishment uses 判處 (pun3 cyu2).
How It Connects
Learn This First
裁定 (Rule or find) is a high-level formal verb used in legal and journalistic contexts. To understand its usage, learners should be familiar with the formal written register of Cantonese and related legal vocabulary used in news reporting.
Related Patterns
- 判處Sentence to
判處 (pun3 cyu2) is the specific verb used for 'sentencing' a defendant to a punishment, whereas 裁定 is for the 'finding' of guilt or a legal ruling.
Level 6 - 涉嫌Allegedly or Suspected of
涉嫌 (sip3 jim4) means 'allegedly' or 'suspected of,' used in reporting before a formal 裁定 (ruling) has been made.
Level 6 - 表示State (Formal Reporting Verb)
表示 (biu2 si6) is another high-register reporting verb often used alongside 裁定 in news contexts to describe what officials or legal parties state.
Level 5 - 畀（被動）Passive Marker
While formal reports use 被 (bei6), colloquial legal discussions might use the passive marker 畀 (bei2) to describe someone being 'found' or 'ruled' a certain way.
Level 3 - Spoken vs written register
裁定 is a prime example of the formal/written register (書面語) being used in spoken Cantonese within specific professional contexts like law.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice 裁定 in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Cantonese lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
