Meaning
The kanji 決 means to decide, determine, or settle something. It shows up when you make up your mind and commit — choosing a restaurant, closing a business deal, or resolving a dispute that has dragged on too long.
Structurally, 決 has two parts. On the left is 氵 (sanzui), the water radical, suggesting water breaking through a barrier. On the right is 夬, an older character implying something cut apart or split decisively. Together they conjure the image of water bursting through a dam the moment a decision is reached and action can finally move forward.
That dam-and-water image has real explanatory power: water held back builds pressure over time, just as a person weighing a difficult choice. When the dam breaks, the flow is immediate and unstoppable. A firm decision works the same way — once made, it commits you fully.
決 is a Grade 3 kanji, taught to Japanese children around age 8 or 9. With only 7 strokes, it is compact and high-frequency. You will encounter it in newspapers, contracts, sports broadcasts, and casual conversation.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi reading is ケツ. It appears mainly in compound words (熟語, jukugo) used in formal, legal, or business contexts.
Key compounds using the ケツ reading:
- 決定 (kettei) — decision, determination; the standard word for a formal or final decision
- 解決 (kaiketsu) — resolution, solution; used when a problem is solved
- 決心 (kesshin) — resolution, personal commitment; a strong internal resolve
- 決断 (ketsudan) — decisive action; used when someone acts boldly under pressure
- 決勝 (kesshō) — final match, deciding game; the round that settles the winner
- 判決 (hanketsu) — judicial verdict, court ruling
- 多数決 (tasūketsu) — majority vote; literally "decision by many numbers"
- 決算 (kessan) — financial settlement, closing of accounts
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi readings are き.める and き.まる. These are the native Japanese verb forms used in everyday speech. The dot marks where the kanji ends and the okurigana suffix begins.
- 決める (kimeru) — to decide (transitive); you actively make the choice. Example: 旅行先を決める — to decide on a travel destination
- 決まる (kimaru) — to be decided (intransitive); something gets settled, often by a group or situation. Example: 会議で日程が決まった — the schedule was decided at the meeting
- 決まって (kimatte) — invariably, always; expresses that something happens without exception
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 決 appears across several areas of everyday Japanese. Here are the most useful, grouped by theme:
Decision-making vocabulary:
- 決定 (kettei) — formal decision or determination
- 決断 (ketsudan) — bold, resolute decision-making
- 決心 (kesshin) — firm personal resolve
- 決意 (ketsui) — resolve, determination; slightly more formal than 決心
- 決める (kimeru) — to decide (verb, everyday use)
Resolution and outcome vocabulary:
- 解決 (kaiketsu) — solving a problem, reaching a resolution
- 決着 (kecchaku) — settlement, final outcome of a conflict
- 否決 (hiketsu) — rejection, voting something down
- 議決 (giketsu) — resolution passed by a deliberative body
Competition and legal vocabulary:
- 決勝 (kesshō) — final match in a competition
- 判決 (hanketsu) — court verdict, legal judgment
- 決行 (kekkō) — proceeding with a plan regardless of conditions
- 多数決 (tasūketsu) — majority vote or decision
Business and administration:
- 決算 (kessan) — financial closing, settlement of accounts
- 決裁 (kessai) — approval or authorization by a superior
Example Sentences
彼女はついに留学することを決めた。
Kanojo wa tsui ni ryūgaku suru koto wo kimeta.
She finally decided to study abroad.
会議で新しい方針が決まった。
Kaigi de atarashii hōshin ga kimatta.
The new policy was decided at the meeting.
この問題はすぐに解決できると思う。
Kono mondai wa sugu ni kaiketsu dekiru to omou.
I think this problem can be solved right away.
彼は強い決意を持って仕事に取り組んでいる。
Kare wa tsuyoi ketsui wo motte shigoto ni torikunde iru.
He tackles his work with strong determination.
委員長は多数決で選ばれた。
Iinchō wa tasūketsu de erabareta.
The committee chair was chosen by majority vote.
決断が速いリーダーはチームから信頼される。
Ketsudan ga hayai rīdā wa chīmu kara shinrai sareru.
A leader who makes decisions quickly is trusted by their team.
裁判所の判決が本日下された。
Saibansho no hanketsu ga honjitsu kudasareta.
The court's verdict was handed down today.
彼女は医者になると決心して、毎日勉強している。
Kanojo wa isha ni naru to kesshin shite, mainichi benkyō shite iru.
Having resolved to become a doctor, she studies every day.
決勝戦はあす行われる予定だ。
Kesshōsen wa asu okonawareru yotei da.
The final match is scheduled to take place tomorrow.
彼は決まって朝６時に起きる。
Kare wa kimatte asa roku-ji ni okiru.
He invariably wakes up at 6 o'clock in the morning.
Memory Tip
Picture a dam holding back a river. Water builds up for days — that pressure is your indecision, all the pros and cons swirling around. Then the dam bursts. Water surges forward and cannot be stopped.
That is 決. The water radical 氵 on the left is the river. The right side 夬 is the crack in the dam — the decisive cut that releases everything. Once you make a 決-ision, the water does not go back.
For Vietnamese learners: the Hán-Việt reading QUYẾT matches the modern Vietnamese word "quyết" used in "quyết định" and "quyết tâm" exactly. This makes 決 one of the most intuitive kanji to lock in.