How to say "determine" in Japanese

• 決めるきめるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers determine in the sense of settling something by decision — determining a date, a plan, or a course of action. This is the word you want when determine really means decide or make up one's mind.
  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 verbSuits determine as fixing or establishing what something is to be — determining a rule, a date, or an amount so that it stands. For simply making a choice, 決める is the word you want.
  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.
• 突き止めるつきとめるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers determine in the investigative sense: pinning down a culprit or an underlying cause, ascertaining exactly what happened or where something is. Think of determine as find out for certain.
  ホームページに住所じゅうしょを書かいたら、その気きになれば誰だれでもあなたの居所いどころを突き止つきとめられる。↗

  If you write your address on a web-page, anybody can find out where you live if the whim takes them.
• 決するけっするCommon
  suru verb (irregular), intransitive verb, transitive verbCovers determine as settling or resolving something decisively, and it also describes a matter being decided. For simply making up one's own mind, 決める is the word you want; this one suits decisive outcomes.
  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.
• 見極めるみきわめるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers determine as getting to the bottom of something — ascertaining the truth of a matter, making sure of what it really is after looking into it closely.

Use 「決める」 for deciding or making up one's mind, 「定める」 for fixing or establishing something, 「突き止める」 for pinning down a culprit or cause, 「見極める」 for getting to the bottom of a matter, and 「決する」 for settling an issue decisively.

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
• 突き止めるつきとめるto determine (esp. a culprit or underlying cause)
• 決するけっするto decide
• 断ずるだんずるto conclude
• 断じるだんじる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
• 見極めるみきわめるto ascertain
• 嗅ぎ分けるかぎわけるto discern (one thing from another)