決 meaning and stroke order
To decide, to determine, to judge
How to write 決, stroke by stroke
7 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
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- 3
- 4
- 5
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- 7
Meaning of 決
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 決 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Decisive.
夬 gives the meaning and 氵 hints at the sound.
Radical: 氵 (water), shared by 467 characters on this site.
How to remember 決
決 is water 氵 next to 夬, a part meaning a break or opening. Picture water bursting through a gap in a dam: once it breaks, there is no going back, just like a firm decision.
決 (jué) mostly appears in compound words about deciding or settling things, such as 決定 (juédìng) to decide and 解決 (jiějué) to solve. It also means 'definitely' before a negative, as in 決不 (jué bù). Example: 我決定明天去北京。(Wǒ juédìng míngtiān qù Běijīng.) I have decided to go to Beijing tomorrow.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 決 with 快 (kuài, fast), which has the same right side 夬 but the heart radical 忄 instead of water 氵. Also note that in simplified Chinese the water radical becomes two drops, giving 决, so both forms are the same character.
Common words with 決
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 決定 | juédìng | to decide; to determine; to make up one's mind; decision (CL:個|个[ge4],項|项[xiang4]) | HSK 3 |
| 解決 | jiějué | to solve; to resolve; to settle (a problem); to eliminate; to wipe out (an enemy, bandits | HSK 3 |
| 決心 | juéxīn | determination; resolution | HSK 3 |
| 決賽 | juésài | finals (of a competition) | HSK 3 |
| 堅決 | jiānjué | firm; resolute; determined | HSK 3 |
| 決不 | jué bù | not at all; simply (can) not | HSK 5 |
| 決策 | juécè | strategic decision; decision-making | HSK 6 |
| 半決賽 | bànjuésài | semifinals | HSK 6 |
| 判決 | pànjué | judgment (by a court of law); to pass judgment on | HSK 7-9 |
| 取決於 | qǔjué yú | to hinge on; to be decided by | HSK 7-9 |
| 裁決 | cáijué | ruling; adjudication | HSK 7-9 |
| 否決 | fǒujué | to veto; to overrule | HSK 7-9 |
| 表決 | biǎojué | to decide by vote; to vote | HSK 7-9 |
| 決議 | juéyì | a resolution; to pass a resolution | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 決
How many strokes are in 決?
決 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 決 mean?
決 (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 決?
決 is pronounced jué, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 決?
The radical of 決 is 氵, which carries the idea of "water". Dictionaries list 決 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 決?
決 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 决, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 決定 and 決心?
決定 (juédìng) is the act of deciding or the decision itself, and it is often used as a verb. 決心 (juéxīn) means determination or resolve, the strong will behind a decision, as in 下決心 (xià juéxīn) to make up one's mind.
Why does 決 have a water radical if it means to decide?
One of its senses is a dam or dike breaching and water bursting out. The idea of water breaking through decisively connects to the meaning of making a firm, final choice.