<p>Typically one would "position" a product in the marketplace. If you are in the act of doing something (process is active now) then the phrase would be "positioning" [a/our/the] product in the marketplace. I would suggest you take a look at your proposed word choice in <a href="http://jukuu.com" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Jukuu.com</a>. Plugging in the word for "position," yields the following usages:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Z94M7.png" alt="position"></p>

<p>"Positioning" on the other hand seems to give something closer to what you want. BTW - Here are some sample sentences, just to be sure (the website has many more).</p>

<pre><code>1.  Their segregated positioning subtly and silently indicates that caution should be taken in their use.
它们相对分离的位置微妙而无声地提示着用户，即使用它们时应该小心。
-- 来源 -- About Face 3交互设计精髓 好评(14)  差评(0)    

2.  In a fixed-head magnetic disk unit, a support and positioning element for a read / write head.
在固定磁头的磁盘机中,用于支撑和定位读/写磁头的部件。
-- 来源 -- 英汉 - 辞典例句  好评(17)  差评(5)    

3.  global positioning system
环球定位系统,[港]全球定位系统
-- 来源 -- 英汉 - 翻译样例 - 行业 好评(10)  差评(0)    

4.  The accurate positioning of an entity relative to a reference.
相对于参考基准把某个实体精确定位。
</code></pre>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZdQve.png" alt="positioning"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-22T11:57:48.690Z
Just want to add that I think `產品定位``Product positioning` came from English first as well as commerce, business and marketing.
Pete C.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-21T13:37:04.647Z
2014-09-21T13:37:04.647Z
Tommie C.
<p>"How are our products positioned in the market?"</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-22T01:14:49.750Z
2014-09-22T01:14:49.750Z
Jakob Heitz
<p>I think in your given sentence, you can translate "定位" as "role". To be specific, "定位" means the role you want your products to play in the market (in this sentence). In another words, you can also say "What is the 角色定位 in the market of our products".
As a Chinese, I can explain to you considering both grammar and context.</p>

<p>If subject is man, then it is related social/mentality state, if subject is a product, then it says, what is targeted customer.</p>

<p>First, split "定位" into "定" and "位". 
"位" means "location/place" without doubt.
For "定", let us first assume it's a verb. Then "定" means "determine/choose" in this phrase. If we assume "定" is descriptive, then it means "determined/fixed". In this sense, it means the position/place is determined/chosen (by somebody or whatever).</p>

<p>So if "定" is a verb, "定位" will be a phrase used like a verb. It means "determine the location/place".
So if "定" is descriptive, "定位" will be a phrase used like a noun. It means "the chosen location/place".</p>

<p>Now let's go back to your question. You asked: what is the "定位" in the market of our products. Here "定位" is a noun. Imagine you are a product manager and you have a new product. When you are designing/promoting your products to the market, the more customers, the better. Then you will think about: what makes a customer buy the product? What is the role of your products to the customers in market? What kind of role will obtain the most customers? </p>

<p>I know I am a little too talkative, but I hope I helped!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-21T22:15:34.407Z
Good attitude, wrong approach. I think it's a jargon. Unless there is a Chinese definition, i'd rather not use it.
George Chen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-21T21:14:33.053Z
2014-09-24T16:59:51.570Z
2014-09-24T16:59:51.570Z
Bones and Teeth
<p>The meaning of a word is not a word. One need to reflect what a word means before he translates it into another language.</p>

<p>Here is a wiki definition in the scope of marketing:</p>

<p>Although there are so many different definitions of brand positioning, probably the most common is: identifying and attempting to occupy a market niche for a brand, product or service utilizing traditional marketing placement strategies (i.e. price, promotion, distribution, packaging, and competition</p>

<p>Source <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positioning_(marketing)#Definitions" rel="nofollow">http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positioning_(marketing)#Definitions</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-22T00:05:06.867Z
Thank you for your attention. Meaning is not what was asked for :)
Yes
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-25T22:32:34.140Z
For example, There is only one person who can position us directly at the head of world's civilization. His name is Bertrand Russell.
George Chen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-21T17:01:32.407Z
2014-09-21T17:01:32.407Z
George Chen
<p>This question is about choosing a proper English word for a Chinese phrase.</p>

<p>Let there be given the sentence "What is the "定位" in the market of our products?" Then, what are the proper English words for "定位" in the given sense?
I might just use such as "placement" or "position" for it, but I am really not sure about the propriety.</p>

<p>I really need your help.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-21T22:18:37.520Z
产品定位 - MBA智库百科
产品定位(Product positioning)产品定位就是针对消费者或用户对某种产品某种属性的重视程度,塑造产品或企业的...
George Chen
<word-choice>
Proper translation of "定位" to English?
# Proper translation of "定位" to English?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-21)

This question is about choosing a proper English word for a Chinese phrase.

Let there be given the sentence "What is the "定位" in the market of our products?" Then, what are the proper English words for "定位" in the given sense?
I might just use such as "placement" or "position" for it, but I am really not sure about the propriety.

I really need your help.

**Tags:** word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 产品定位 - MBA智库百科 产品定位(Product positioning)产品定位就是针对消费者或用户对某种产品某种属性的重视程度,塑造产品或企业的...  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-09-21. Score: 6

Typically one would "position" a product in the marketplace. If you are in the act of doing something (process is active now) then the phrase would be "positioning" [a/our/the] product in the marketplace. I would suggest you take a look at your proposed word choice in [Jukuu.com](http://jukuu.com). Plugging in the word for "position," yields the following usages:

![position](https://i.sstatic.net/Z94M7.png)

"Positioning" on the other hand seems to give something closer to what you want. BTW - Here are some sample sentences, just to be sure (the website has many more).

```
1.  Their segregated positioning subtly and silently indicates that caution should be taken in their use.
它们相对分离的位置微妙而无声地提示着用户，即使用它们时应该小心。
-- 来源 -- About Face 3交互设计精髓 好评(14)  差评(0)    

2.  In a fixed-head magnetic disk unit, a support and positioning element for a read / write head.
在固定磁头的磁盘机中,用于支撑和定位读/写磁头的部件。
-- 来源 -- 英汉 - 辞典例句  好评(17)  差评(5)    

3.  global positioning system
环球定位系统,[港]全球定位系统
-- 来源 -- 英汉 - 翻译样例 - 行业 好评(10)  差评(0)    

4.  The accurate positioning of an entity relative to a reference.
相对于参考基准把某个实体精确定位。

```

![positioning](https://i.sstatic.net/ZdQve.png)

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Just want to add that I think `產品定位``Product positioning` came from English first as well as commerce, business and marketing.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-09-22. Score: 2

"How are our products positioned in the market?"


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-09-21. Score: 2

I think in your given sentence, you can translate "定位" as "role". To be specific, "定位" means the role you want your products to play in the market (in this sentence). In another words, you can also say "What is the 角色定位 in the market of our products".
As a Chinese, I can explain to you considering both grammar and context.

If subject is man, then it is related social/mentality state, if subject is a product, then it says, what is targeted customer.

First, split "定位" into "定" and "位".
"位" means "location/place" without doubt.
For "定", let us first assume it's a verb. Then "定" means "determine/choose" in this phrase. If we assume "定" is descriptive, then it means "determined/fixed". In this sense, it means the position/place is determined/chosen (by somebody or whatever).

So if "定" is a verb, "定位" will be a phrase used like a verb. It means "determine the location/place".
So if "定" is descriptive, "定位" will be a phrase used like a noun. It means "the chosen location/place".

Now let's go back to your question. You asked: what is the "定位" in the market of our products. Here "定位" is a noun. Imagine you are a product manager and you have a new product. When you are designing/promoting your products to the market, the more customers, the better. Then you will think about: what makes a customer buy the product? What is the role of your products to the customers in market? What kind of role will obtain the most customers?

I know I am a little too talkative, but I hope I helped!

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Good attitude, wrong approach. I think it's a jargon. Unless there is a Chinese definition, i'd rather not use it.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-09-21. Score: 1

The meaning of a word is not a word. One need to reflect what a word means before he translates it into another language.

Here is a wiki definition in the scope of marketing:

Although there are so many different definitions of brand positioning, probably the most common is: identifying and attempting to occupy a market niche for a brand, product or service utilizing traditional marketing placement strategies (i.e. price, promotion, distribution, packaging, and competition

Source <http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positioning_(marketing)#Definitions>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you for your attention. Meaning is not what was asked for :)  
> **username_1**: For example, There is only one person who can position us directly at the head of world's civilization. His name is Bertrand Russell.  

---

