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下决心 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
下决心xiàjuéxīnto determineHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #15655, Very Hard
下决心xiàjuéxīnto resolveHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #15655, Very Hard
xiàjuéxīn(xia4jue2xin1)xia jue xin T4
  1. 1to determine
  2. 2to resolve
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March 24, 2026

下决心(下決心)xiàjuéxīn(xia4jue2xin1)

下决心 means to make a firm decision or resolution about something. It is commonly used when someone decides to take a significant action or change in their life, often after careful consideration. The phrase conveys a sense of commitment and determination.

Strokes13Frequency#15655DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, making a firm resolution often reflects a deep sense of responsibility and honor, especially in contexts like family commitments or career paths. The phrase may be used in motivational contexts, such as during New Year's resolutions or after significant life events.

Memory tip

Imagine a person standing at the bottom of a hill (下) looking up, making a resolution (决心) to climb to the top no matter what. The downward motion (下) emphasizes the decision-making process as they prepare to ascend. 'Jue' (决) sounds like 'jewels,' representing the precious nature of a firm decision, and 'xin' (心) means heart, indicating that the resolution comes from the heart.

Meanings of 下决心

xiàjuéxīn(xia4jue2xin1)
1to determine
2to resolve
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 下决心

下决心Simplified
下決心Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 下决心

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Podcast: 下决心

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AI study notes for 下决心

Quick Contrast

决心 (juéxīn) vs 下定决心 (xiàdìngjuéxīn): use 下决心 for a general sense of making a resolution, while 下定决心 emphasizes the firmness and finality of that decision.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context in which you use 下决心; it is more formal and may not be appropriate for casual conversations. Common collocations include 下决心做某事 (to resolve to do something). Avoid confusing it with similar phrases like 决定 (to decide), which is less about commitment.

HSK Study Tips

While 下决心 is not an HSK level word, it connects well with HSK vocabulary related to decision-making. Focus on understanding how it differs from 决定 (juédìng) and practice in scenarios where commitment is emphasized, such as personal goals or life changes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 下决心 with 决定, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我决定下决心' is incorrect; it should simply be '我下决心'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 下决心

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Component characters

下xiàdown
HSK 13 strokes一
View full entry
决juéto decide
HSK 36 strokes冫
View full entry
心xīnheart
HSK 44 strokes心
View full entry

How to say to determine in Chinese

“to determine” in Chinese is下决心xiàjuéxīn

下决心 means to make a firm decision or resolution about something. It is commonly used when someone decides to take a significant action or change in their life, often after careful consideration. The phrase conveys a sense of commitment and determination.

When to use 下决心

Be mindful of the context in which you use 下决心; it is more formal and may not be appropriate for casual conversations. Common collocations include 下决心做某事 (to resolve to do something). Avoid confusing it with similar phrases like 决定 (to decide), which is less about commitment.

下决心 or something close to it

决心 (juéxīn) vs 下定决心 (xiàdìngjuéxīn): use 下决心 for a general sense of making a resolution, while 下定决心 emphasizes the firmness and finality of that decision.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 下决心 with 决定, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我决定下决心' is incorrect; it should simply be '我下决心'.

Write 下决心

下
决
心

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Grammar patterns of 下决心

下决心 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3

...

我下决心要学习中文。

Wǒ xià juéxīn yào xuéxí zhōngwén.

I have made up my mind to study Chinese.

Exercise 1 of 1

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Put the words in order to say “I have made up my mind to study Chinese.”.

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Usage Notes for 下决心

Mixing Contexts of DeterminationCommon Error

Learners often use 下决心 in contexts that imply casual decision-making, whereas it should be reserved for strong, resolute decisions.

1

我下决心要去旅行。

I have resolved to travel.

Exercise 1 of 1

Get it right

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

我____要去旅行。

I have resolved to travel.

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Frequently asked questions about 下决心

You can say, '我下决心要减肥' (I have resolved to lose weight).

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