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决定 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
决定juédìngto decide (to do something)HSK 3, v, 14 strokes, rank #340, Medium
决定juédìngto resolveHSK 3, v, 14 strokes, rank #340, Medium
决定juédìngdecisionHSK 3, v, 14 strokes, rank #340, Medium
决定juédìngcertainlyHSK 3, v, 14 strokes, rank #340, Medium
juédìng(jue2ding4)jue ding T2
  1. 1to decide (to do something)
  2. 2to resolve
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March 24, 2026

决定(決定)juédìng(jue2ding4)

决定 (jué dìng) means 'to decide' or 'to resolve.' It is commonly used when making choices or reaching conclusions, whether in personal, professional, or academic contexts. The word emphasizes a firm resolution or determination to take a specific action.

Strokes14Frequency#340DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the act of making a decision often involves consulting family or seeking consensus, particularly in important matters. This communal approach contrasts with more individualistic decision-making styles in Western cultures.

Memory tip

Think of 决 (jué) as a 'jewel' that shines brightly when a decision is made, symbolizing clarity and determination. The character 定 (dìng) resembles a 'ding' bell that signals the finality of your decision, ringing loud and clear to confirm your choice.

Meanings of 决定

juédìng(jue2ding4)
1to decide (to do something)
2to resolve
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 决定

决定Simplified
決定Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#340Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

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Podcast: 决定

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AI study notes for 决定

Quick Contrast

确定 (què dìng) — use 决定 when emphasizing the act of making a choice, whereas 确定 focuses more on confirming or establishing something as certain.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 决定 with similar verbs like 决策 (jué cè), which means 'to plan' or 'to strategize.' While 决定 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, it’s crucial to match the tone of your conversation with the gravity of the decision being discussed.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 3 word, 决定 connects well with other terms related to choice and action, such as 选择 (xuǎn zé, 'to choose') and 决心 (jué xīn, 'determination'). Focus on using it in sentences to express personal decisions in various scenarios.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 决定 with the noun form and mistakenly say '我有决定' (Wǒ yǒu jué dìng), when they should say '我做了决定' (Wǒ zuò le jué dìng) meaning 'I made a decision.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 决定

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Component characters

决juéto decide
HSK 36 strokes冫
View full entry
定dìngto set
HSK 48 strokes宀
View full entry

How to say to decide (to do something) in Chinese

“to decide (to do something)” in Chinese is决定juédìng

决定 (jué dìng) means 'to decide' or 'to resolve.' It is commonly used when making choices or reaching conclusions, whether in personal, professional, or academic contexts. The word emphasizes a firm resolution or determination to take a specific action.

When to use 决定

Be careful not to confuse 决定 with similar verbs like 决策 (jué cè), which means 'to plan' or 'to strategize.' While 决定 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, it’s crucial to match the tone of your conversation with the gravity of the decision being discussed.

决定 or something close to it

确定 (què dìng) — use 决定 when emphasizing the act of making a choice, whereas 确定 focuses more on confirming or establishing something as certain.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 决定 with the noun form and mistakenly say '我有决定' (Wǒ yǒu jué dìng), when they should say '我做了决定' (Wǒ zuò le jué dìng) meaning 'I made a decision.'

Write 决定

决
定

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

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Grammar patterns of 决定

决定 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

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

既然这事你已经____了,我就不说什么了。

Since you have already decided on this, I will not say anything more.

Example sentences for 决定 (13)

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vto decide (to do something)10
1
决定你人生高度的,不是你的才能,而是你的态度。

juédìng nǐ rénshēng gāodù de, bùshì nǐ de cáinéng, érshì nǐ de tàidù。

Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.--Zig Ziglar
2
对于这个决定的反应非常不一致。

duìyú zhège juédìng de fǎnyìng fēicháng bù yízhì。

There has been a very mixed reaction to the decision.
3
你的决定必须转化为具体明确的行动。

nǐ de juédìng bìxū zhuǎnhuà wèi jùtǐ míngquè de xíngdòng。

Your decision must be translated into specific, concrete actions.
4
你决定吧,反正鱼与熊掌不可兼得。

nǐ juédìng ba, fǎnzhèng yú yǔ xióng zhǎng bù kě jiān de。

Make up your mind, you can't have it both ways.
5
你别管,妈妈,我已经能够自己作决定了!

nǐ bié guǎn, māma, wǒ yǐjīng nénggòu zìjǐ zuō juédìng le!

Back off, Mom, I'm old enough to make my own decisions!
6
我把决定权暂时全交给你。

wǒ bǎ juédìng quán zànshí quán jiāogěi nǐ。

For the moment, I leave you to take all decisions.
7
约翰,我为史蒂夫感到难过,但是我想你的决定是正确的。

yāo hàn, wǒ wèi Shǐ dì fū gǎndào nánguò, dànshì wǒ xiǎng nǐ de juédìng shì zhèngquè de。

John, I'm sorry for Steve, but I think you'vemade the right decisions.
8
作出的决定是正确的,但理由可能是错误的。

zuòchū de juédìng shì zhèngquè de, dàn lǐyóu kěnéng shì cuòwù de。

The right decision was made, but probably for the wrong reasons.
9
决定本场比赛结果的进球是在中场休息前一刻打入的。

juédìng běn chǎng bǐsài jiéguǒ de jìn qiú shì zài zhōng chǎng xiūxi qián yīkè dǎ rù de。

The goal that decided the match came just before the interval.
10
我肩负特殊责任,必须确保自己作出的决定是正确的。

wǒ jiānfù tèshū zérèn, bìxū quèbǎo zìjǐ zuòchū de juédìng shì zhèngquè de。

I have a particular responsibility to ensure I make the right decision.
vto resolve3
11
经过长时间的考虑,我决定换工作。

Jīngguò cháng shíjiān de kǎolǜ, wǒ juédìng huàn gōngzuò.

After a long period of consideration, I resolved to change jobs.
12
他们决定明天去爬山。

Tāmen juédìng míngtiān qù páshān.

They resolved to go hiking tomorrow.
13
老师决定今天不上课,而是去博物馆。

Lǎoshī juédìng jīntiān bú shàngkè, érshì qù bówùguǎn.

The teacher resolved not to have class today, but to go to the museum instead.

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Frequently asked questions about 决定

You can say '我决定去旅行' (Wǒ jué dìng qù lǚ xíng), which means 'I have decided to travel.'

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