How to say "self-determination" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 自決じけつnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbSelf-determination as deciding one's own fate, whether a people's political future or an individual's final choice; the nuance is grave, and for a person it can suggest taking one's own life.
- 自己決定じこけっていno-adjectiveSelf-determination in the sense of personal autonomy — deciding about one's own life, body, or affairs for oneself; typical of medical and ethical discussions of a person's right to choose.
Choose 自決 for self-determination as deciding one's own fate — a people's political destiny or a grave personal decision — and 自己決定 for the personal-autonomy sense of making decisions about one's own life.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
