TongTong
Sign in

决定 (jué dìng) — to decide; decision

Definition

决定 is a very common verb 'to decide' and noun 'decision', used in everyday speech. Pairs most often with 作出 in formal/written contexts (作出决定); 主意 is more like 'idea' than a decision.

to decidedecision
Measure word · 个, 项

Examples

  • 决定。
    Wǒ jué dìng míng tiān bú qù shàng bān.
    I decided not to go to work tomorrow.
  • 决定。
    Zhè ge jué dìng hěn zhòng yào.
    This decision is very important.
  • 决定。
    Tā jué dìng xià ge yuè qù zhōng guó xué xí.
    He decided to go to China next month to study.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

决juédecide
定dìngsettle

决 and 定 both express settling something, together meaning to decide.

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.

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
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
正
正zhèng定dìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

定 is built from 宀 and 正, with 正 supplying the sound.

Open 定 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 31000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsWill & Intention2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 3 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.