‘奠定’ is a compound verb meaning 'to establish firmly' or 'to lay a solid foundation for something.' The first character 奠 (diàn) originally meant 'to offer sacrifices' and carries the sense of solemnly setting something in place; 定 (dìng) means 'to fix,' 'to settle,' or 'to decide.' Together, they convey the idea of establishing something with stability, authority, and lasting impact — often used for foundational achievements in history, science, institutions, or relationships.

This word is formal and commonly appears in academic, historical, political, or journalistic contexts. It typically takes a concrete or abstract noun as its object — such as a theory, system, relationship, or tradition — and implies that what is established will endure and serve as a basis for future development. It is rarely used in casual speech and almost never with physical objects like furniture or tools.