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取决 (qǔ jué) — to depend on; to hinge on; to be decided by

Definition

取决 is more formal/written than 在于 and points to the deciding factor of an outcome (often 取决于). 依靠 and 依赖 emphasize relying on something for support, not hinging on it.

verb
to depend onto hinge onto be decided by

Examples

  • 。
    Zuì zhōng jié guǒ qǔ jué yú nǐ de xuǎn zé.
    The final result depends on your choice.
  • 。
    Tā de qù liú qǔ jué yú gōng sī de jué dìng.
    His staying or leaving hinges on the company's decision.
  • 。
    Zhè jiàn shì de chéng bài qǔ jué yú dà jiā de nǔ lì.
    The success or failure of this matter depends on everyone's efforts.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

取 pairs 又 (hand) with 耳 (ear), showing a hand taking an ear, as in taking the ear of fallen prey.

Open 取 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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