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夬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
夬guàidecisive, certain; parted; forkzg, 4 strokes, radical 大
guài(guai4)guai T4
  1. 1decisive, certain; parted; fork
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March 24, 2026

夬guài(guai4)

The character 夬 (guài) conveys the meaning of being decisive or certain, often associated with making clear and definitive choices. It can also indicate something that is parted or forked, typically in a more abstract context, such as a decision point. This character often appears in discussions about strategy or judgment.

Strokes4Radical大
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese philosophy, decisiveness is often valued in leadership and governance, reflecting the importance of clear and firm decision-making in historical contexts, such as during the times of Confucius.

Memory tip

Imagine a fork in the road (夬) where you must decisively choose one path. The left side resembles a person standing firm in their decision (the radical 亻), while the right side looks like a slice (the radical 刀), symbolizing clarity and separation in choices.

Meanings of 夬

guài(guai4)
1decisive, certain; parted; fork
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 夬

夬Simplified
4Strokes
大Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 夬

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Podcast: 夬

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AI study notes for 夬

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 夬 with similar characters, such as 决 (jué), which also means to decide but is used in slightly different contexts. It is more formal and often used in written language rather than casual conversation. Be cautious with the third tone, as it can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although not included in HSK levels, understanding 夬 can enhance vocabulary related to decision-making. It connects with other HSK words like 决定 (juédìng) meaning 'to decide,' and it helps learners grasp the nuances of choice and decisiveness in Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 夬 with the character 决 (jué) due to their similar meanings. For example, using 决 instead of 夬 in contexts requiring clarity can lead to misunderstandings about decisiveness.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 夬

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Etymology of 夬

Explanation

Origin unclear. Possibly a pictograph of a hand separating something.

Learn more about character formation (六书)
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 夬?

Decomposition of 夬

IDS Structure⿻大?
夬Full character
=
大da4
outer
Exercise 1 of 1

Parts

Which of these is part of 夬?

How to say decisive, certain; parted; fork in Chinese

“decisive, certain; parted; fork” in Chinese is夬guài

The character 夬 (guài) conveys the meaning of being decisive or certain, often associated with making clear and definitive choices. It can also indicate something that is parted or forked, typically in a more abstract context, such as a decision point. This character often appears in discussions about strategy or judgment.

When to use 夬

Learners often confuse 夬 with similar characters, such as 决 (jué), which also means to decide but is used in slightly different contexts. It is more formal and often used in written language rather than casual conversation. Be cautious with the third tone, as it can change the meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 夬 with the character 决 (jué) due to their similar meanings. For example, using 决 instead of 夬 in contexts requiring clarity can lead to misunderstandings about decisiveness.

Write 夬

夬

Practice writing 夬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 夬

Words containing this character1
夬guàidecisive

Frequently asked questions about 夬

It is not commonly used in daily conversation but may appear in written texts, especially those discussing strategies or decisions.

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