The invention relates to a video definition recommending method and device. The method comprise the following steps: definition setting of all videos is configured according to statistical information, coming from a content distribution network CDN server, relevant to a working state of a CDN server; a play request from a client end is received, and the play request comprises information relevant to the client end; the play request is responded to, and video definition setting matching with the information is found out; according to the matching video definition setting, a notification about recommended video definition is issued to the client end. The device comprises a configuration part, a receiving part, a searching part and a video definition issuing part. Via use of the video definition recommending method and device disclosed in an embodiment of the invention, video definition can be automatically recommended to a user, a phenomenon that a video cannot be played smoothly because inappropriate video definition is chosen when the user cannot know the working state of the CDN server can be prevented, and video watching experience of the user is improved.