决 meaning and stroke order
To decide, to determine, to judge
How to write 决, stroke by stroke
6 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Meaning of 决
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to decide
- to determine
- to execute (sb)
- (of a dam etc) to breach or burst
- definitely
- certainly
How 决 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 冫 (ice), shared by 26 characters on this site.
How to remember 决
决 (jué) is 冫 (ice) next to 夬 (guài). Picture a sheet of ice that suddenly cracks apart: once it breaks, the choice is made and there is no going back, just like a firm decision.
决 rarely stands alone in speech. It mostly appears in words like 决定 (juédìng, to decide), 解决 (jiějué, to solve) and 决心 (juéxīn, determination). Example: 我决定明天去北京。 (Wǒ juédìng míngtiān qù Běijīng.) I've decided to go to Beijing tomorrow.
Common mistake: Learners often write 决 with three dots 氵 on the left, because the traditional form 決 uses water. The simplified 决 has only two strokes on the left, the ice radical 冫. Also do not confuse 夬 with 央 (yāng): the right side of 决 has an opening on the right and no full box.
Common words with 决
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 决定 | juédìng | to decide; to determine; to make up one's mind; decision (CL:個|个[ge4],項|项[xiang4]) | HSK 3 |
| 解决 | jiějué | to solve; to resolve; to settle (a problem); to eliminate; to wipe out (an enemy, bandits | HSK 3 |
| 决心 | juéxīn | determination; resolution | HSK 3 |
| 决赛 | juésài | finals (of a competition) | HSK 3 |
| 坚决 | jiānjué | firm; resolute; determined | HSK 3 |
| 决不 | jué bù | not at all; simply (can) not | HSK 5 |
| 决策 | juécè | strategic decision; decision-making | HSK 6 |
| 半决赛 | bànjuésài | semifinals | HSK 6 |
| 判决 | pànjué | judgment (by a court of law); to pass judgment on | HSK 7-9 |
| 取决于 | qǔjué yú | to hinge on; to be decided by | HSK 7-9 |
| 裁决 | cáijué | ruling; adjudication | HSK 7-9 |
| 否决 | fǒujué | to veto; to overrule | HSK 7-9 |
| 表决 | biǎojué | to decide by vote; to vote | HSK 7-9 |
| 决议 | juéyì | a resolution; to pass a resolution | HSK 7-9 |
决 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 决
How many strokes are in 决?
决 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 决 mean?
决 (jué) means to decide, to determine, to judge. A common word with it is 决定 (juédìng), meaning "to decide; to determine; to make up one's mind; decision (CL:個|个[ge4],項|项[xiang4])".
How do you pronounce 决?
决 is pronounced jué, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 决?
The radical of 决 is 冫, which carries the idea of "ice". Dictionaries list 决 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 决?
The traditional form of 决 is 決. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 决 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 决 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 决 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 决定 and 决心?
决定 (juédìng) is the act of deciding or the decision itself, and it is often a verb: 我决定了. 决心 (juéxīn) is the inner determination behind it, usually used as a noun, as in 下决心 (xià juéxīn, to make up one's mind).
How is 决不 different from 不?
决不 (jué bù) means never or absolutely not, and it shows strong resolve. 我决不放弃 (Wǒ jué bù fàngqì) means I will never give up, which is much stronger than 我不放弃.