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HSK 3

决定

to decide; decision

verbneutral
决
jué2nd tone
定
dìng4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
juédìng
Part of speech
verb
Level
HSK 3
Strokes
14
Register
neutral
Measure word
个

Stroke order for 决定

决定 is written with 14 strokes (决: 6, 定: 8). The animation replays automatically.

What does 决定 mean?

决定 (juédìng) is both a verb meaning 'to decide / determine' and a noun meaning 'a decision.'

As a verb, it can take another verb as its object directly: 我决定去 (I decided to go) — no 'to' marker needed. It can also take a noun (决定方向 = decide the direction) or a clause (我决定我们明天出发 = I decided we leave tomorrow). As a noun, it pairs with 个 or 项: 一个重要的决定 = an important decision.

There's also a sense of 'to determine / dictate' beyond personal choice: 价格由市场决定 = price is determined by the market. Compared to 决心 (juéxīn, determination / resolve), 决定 is a single choice; 决心 is the resolve to follow through. Compared to 选择 (xuǎnzé, to choose), 决定 emphasizes the moment of making up your mind, while 选择 emphasizes picking among options.

Note: Neutral. Works in both speech and writing. Slightly more weighty than the spoken 定 (dìng) on its own — 决定 implies a real decision, not just a casual pick.

Character by character

决juéto decide; break through; resolve
+
定dìngto set; fix; settle
=
决定

Memory hook: 决 ('break through / resolve') + 定 ('set / fix in place') — you cut through the options and lock it in.

Example sentences

我决定明天去北京。

Wǒ juédìng míngtiān qù Běijīng.

I've decided to go to Beijing tomorrow.

neutral

这是一个很重要的决定。

Zhè shì yí ge hěn zhòngyào de juédìng.

This is a very important decision.

neutral

你决定了吗？

Nǐ juédìng le ma?

Have you decided?

spoken

我还没决定要不要去。

Wǒ hái méi juédìng yào bú yào qù.

I haven't decided yet whether to go or not.

spoken

这件事由你来决定。

Zhè jiàn shì yóu nǐ lái juédìng.

This matter is for you to decide.

neutral

Common phrases with 决定

做决定zuò juédìngto make a decision
决定去juédìng qùdecide to go
重要的决定zhòngyào de juédìngan important decision
决定不了juédìng bu liǎocan't decide
最后决定zuìhòu juédìngfinal decision

Synonyms

决心juéxīn

决心 means 'determination / resolve' (noun) or 'be determined to' (verb) — it emphasizes ongoing commitment. 决定 is the moment of deciding. 我决定戒烟 = I decided to quit smoking; 我下决心戒烟 = I'm determined to quit.

选择xuǎnzé

选择 means 'to choose / pick' from options. 决定 emphasizes the act of making up your mind. You 选择 from a menu; you 决定 whether to order at all.

定dìng

定 (or 定下来) is a more casual / spoken way to say 'decide / settle on.' 我们定明天 = let's settle on tomorrow. 决定 is more formal and weighty.

Don't confuse 决定 with

解决jiějué

解决 means 'to solve (a problem).' Shares the character 决, but 决定 is about choosing what to do, while 解决 is about making a problem go away.

一定yídìng

一定 means 'definitely / certainly' (adverb). 决定 is a verb / noun about deciding. Same 定 character, but 一定 modifies other verbs while 决定 is itself a verb.

FAQ

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