How to say "decide" in Japanese

• 決めるきめるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe general-purpose word for deciding or choosing: use it whenever you make up your mind about something yourself — what to do, where to go, which option to take.
  そこに行いくことに決きめた。↗

  I made up my mind to go there.
• 定めるさだめるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbDeciding in the sense of fixing or determining something, such as establishing a rule, date, or limit; it is not the word for making up your own mind about a personal choice.
  ヘーゲルと同様どうように、パノフスキーの弁論べんろん方ほうの概念がいねんは歴史れきしがあらかじめ定さだめられた道程どうていをたどるようにさせている。↗

  In the same way as Hegel, Panovsky's notion of the dialectic makes history follow a predetermined course.
• 決するけっするCommon
  suru verb (irregular), intransitive verb, transitive verbTo decide, determine, or resolve a matter, and also 'to be decided'; it suits a weighty matter being settled once and for all rather than ordinary personal choices.
  まだどちらと決けっしたわけではありませんので、引き続ひきつづき成り行なりゆきを見守みまもりたいと思おもいます。↗

  I haven't decided either way. I want to keep an eye on how things go.
• 裁くさばくJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbOnly for 'decide' in the sense of judging: a judge deciding a case or passing judgement on someone's actions; it is not the word for making up your own mind.
  誰だれがこの事件じけんを裁さばくのでしょうか。↗

  Who is going to try this case?
• 思い切るおもいきるCommon
  godan verb, intransitive verbDeciding with resolve: finally making up your mind to take a bold step or to give something up after hesitation; a decision to act, not a neutral choice between options.
  重病じゅうびょうには思い切おもいきった療法りょうほうが必要ひつようだ。↗

  Desperate diseases require desperate remedies.

Choose 「決める」 for ordinary personal decisions, 「定める」 for fixing or establishing something such as rules, 「決する」 for a matter being settled or resolved, 「裁く」 for judging a case, and 「思い切る」 for a resolute decision to act.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 決めるきめるto decide
• 定めるさだめるto decide
• 決するけっするto decide
• 裁くさばくto judge
• 断ずるだんずるto conclude
• 決すけっすto decide
• 決定づけるけっていづけるto decide (e.g. an outcome)
• 定むさだむto decide
• 判ずるはんずるto judge
• 判じるはんじるto judge
• 断じるだんじるto conclude
• 腹を決めるはらをきめるto resolve
• 思い切るおもいきるto make up one's mind
• 踏み切るふみきるto take the plunge
• まとめるto establish