决定
to decide; decision
HSK level
- Pinyin
- juédìng
- Part of speech
- verb
- Level
- HSK 3
- Strokes
- 14
- Register
- neutral
- Measure word
- 个
- In episodes
- 6
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
Memory hook: 决 ('break through / resolve') + 定 ('set / fix in place') — you cut through the options and lock it in.
Hear 决定 in real episodes
决定 appears in 6 Fluentide podcast episodes at natural native speed, 4 of them below. Each sentence plays at the easiest difficulty it exists in — switch it to hear the same moment at your level, with full pinyin and English throughout.
一棵橙子树，其实是两部分接在一起的：下面的部分长根，上面的部分决定结什么样的橙子。
An orange tree is really two parts joined together: the lower part grows the roots, and the upper part decides what kind of oranges it bears.
Citrus Greening Wiped Out 95% of Florida's Oranges. Can Gene Editing Bring Them Back?
可是，公司突然决定，让星舰早一点回来。
But the company suddenly decided to bring Starship back early.
Starship Reaches Orbit for the First Time, Deploys 26 Starlink Satellites — Then Comes Home Early
可是最后他决定：我们这里不需要这个。
But in the end he decided: we don't need this here.
$10,000 for Every Household If the Data Center Gets Built: Why a Pennsylvania Township Isn't Buying It
你觉得，一个城市的酒吧和夜生活，应该由市场决定，还是应该严格管理？
Do you think a city's pubs and nightlife should be left to the market, or tightly regulated?
Selling Alcohol Is So Hard in Northern Ireland That Lidl Opened a Pub Inside Its SupermarketIntermediate
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
Synonyms
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 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 (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
Frequently asked questions
Related words from the same episodes
Acquire it by listening
Meet 决定 again — in real Chinese, at your level.
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