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决断 (jué duàn) — (stative verb) decisive, resolute, firm in making decisions

Definition

A stative verb meaning 'decisive' — describes a person's firm, quick decision-making. Often paired with 果断 to emphasize both firmness and speed.

adjective
(stative verb) decisiveresolutefirm in making decisions

Examples

  • 决断，。
    Tā hěn jué duàn, cóng lái bú huì yóu yù.
    He is very decisive and never hesitates.
  • ，决断。
    Zuò wéi lǐng dǎo, bì xū jué duàn guǒ duàn.
    As a leader, one must be decisive and resolute.
  • 决断。
    Tā zuò jué dìng fēi cháng jué duàn.
    He is very decisive when making decisions.

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
断duànjudge

Both 决 and 断 mean decide or judge, so together they express firm deciding.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斷; 断 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 斷 uses 𢇍 (to cut) and 斤 (axe) together.

Open 断 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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