毅然决然 (yì rán jué rán) — resolutely, without a moment's hesitation, with firm determination

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning 'resolutely, without hesitation,' used in formal writing to stress a firm, decisive choice. Pairs with 地 + verb to modify an action.

idiom
resolutelywithout a moment's hesitationwith firm determination

Examples

  • 毅然决然，。
    Tā yì rán jué rán dì cí qù le gāo xīn gōng zuò, qù zhuī qiú zì jǐ de mèng xiǎng.
    He resolutely quit his high-paying job to pursue his dream.
  • ，毅然决然。
    Miàn duì kùn nan, tā yì rán jué rán dì xuǎn zé le jiān chí.
    Faced with difficulties, she chose to persevere without hesitation.
  • 毅然决然，。
    Zhè wèi kē xué jiā yì rán jué rán dì fàng qì le guó wài de yōu yuè tiáo jiàn, huí guó xiào lì.
    This scientist resolutely gave up favorable conditions abroad to serve his country.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

毅然resolutely
毅yìfirm然ránin such a way
决然resolutely
决juédecisive然ránin such a way

毅 and 决 both convey firm resolve, and 然 adds the sense of 'in such a way', so the whole stresses acting without hesitation.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
殳殳shūan ancient Chinese weapon
Sound part声符shēngfú
豙
豙yì毅yì
Same sound today

毅 pairs 豙 (yì), which gives the sound, with 殳, an ancient Chinese weapon.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 決; 决 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
夬
夬guài決jué
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 決 has 氵 (water) and 夬, which gives the sound. This describes 決, not the simplified 决.

Open 决 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →

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