Definition
下决心 is a verb-object phrase (离合词) meaning 'to make a decision' or 'to make up one's mind'. The verb 下 can be separated from the object 决心 by inserting aspect markers (了, 过), complements (不了, 得), or measure words (个). For example: 下了决心 ('made a decision'), 下不了决心 ('can't make up one's mind').
v.o.
to make a decisionto make up one's mind
Examples
- 下决心。Wǒ xià jué xīn jīnnián yīdìng yào xué hǎo Yīngyǔ.I've decided to master English this year.
- 。Tā xià le juéxīn yào jiè yān.He made up his mind to quit smoking.
- 。Tā yìzhí xià bù liǎo juéxīn huàn gōngzuò.She has been unable to make up her mind to change jobs.
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