决

決

jué

冫 + 夬

Definitions

jué (verb) to decide; to determine

jué (verb) to breach; to burst (of water)

jué (adverb) definitely; certainly

Etymology

Simplified form of 決. Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 夬 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "burst open". The meaning later shifted to "clear", "cut off", "decide" and "judge".

About

决 is the simplified form of the traditional 決, a phono-semantic compound. The component 氵 ('water') gives the semantic category, while 夬 (guài) supplies the sound. In the simplified character, the water radical is replaced by 冫 ('ice'). The earliest meaning recorded for this character is the bursting open of water, such as a river violently breaking through a dike or the forceful clearing of a water channel. From this notion of a sudden, decisive breach, the meaning evolved into a range of related senses: 'clear' (as in clarity), 'cut off' (to sever), 'decide', and 'judge'.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我决定去北京。

Wǒ juédìng qù Běijīng.

I decide to go to Beijing.

他解决了这个难题。

Tā jiějué le zhège nántí.

He solved this difficult problem.

她有决心学好英语。

Tā yǒu juéxīn xué hǎo Yīngyǔ.

She has the determination to learn English well.

决赛非常精彩。

Juésài fēichāng jīngcǎi.

The final match was very exciting.

我决不忘记你的帮助。

Wǒ jué bù wàngjì nǐ de bāngzhù.

I will definitely not forget your help.

公司决定开发新产品。

Gōngsī juédìng kāifā xīn chǎnpǐn.

The company decided to develop new products.

经过思考，他做出了决定。

Jīngguò sīkǎo, tā zuò chūle juédìng.

After thinking, he made a decision.

在困难面前，我们必须坚决应对。

Zài kùnnán miànqián, wǒmen bìxū jiānjué yìngduì.

In the face of difficulties, we must respond firmly.

Related Characters

Component: 冫

Component: 夬

决