決断|けつだんketsudan[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbdecision; determination
    決断けつだんの日ひは近ちかい。↗
    The day of decision is at hand.
Conjugation
Dictionary form決断する(けつだんする)
Polite (masu)決断します(けつだんします)
Negative (nai)決断しない(けつだんしない)
polite (masen)決断しません(けつだんしません)
classical zu / nu決断せず・決断せぬ(けつだんせず・けつだんせぬ)
Past (ta)決断した(けつだんした)
polite (mashita)決断しました(けつだんしました)
Past negative (nakatta)決断しなかった(けつだんしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)決断しませんでした(けつだんしませんでした)
Te form決断して(けつだんして)
Potential決断できる(けつだんできる)
Passive決断される(けつだんされる)
Causative決断させる(けつだんさせる)
Causative passive決断させられる(けつだんさせられる)
Conditional (ba)決断すれば(けつだんすれば)
tara決断したら(けつだんしたら)
Volitional決断しよう(けつだんしよう)
polite (mashou)決断しましょう(けつだんしましょう)
Imperative決断しろ(けつだんしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym決定けっていNeutralA noun for the decision that has been made; it stresses the outcome, while 「決断」 stresses the resolve to commit to a choice without wavering.
  • Synonym決心けっしんNeutralA noun for making up one's mind; it stresses inner resolve, while 「決断」 stresses making a decisive choice.
  • Synonym決意けついWrittenA written word for a solemn, firm determination; it stresses firmness of will, while 「決断」 stresses decisiveness.
  • Synonym決するけっするWrittenA written verb for deciding or settling something, as in 「雌雄を決する」 (deciding the winner).
  • Synonym決めるきめるNeutralThe most common everyday verb for deciding; 「決断」 places more weight on boldness.
  • Synonym判断はんだんNeutralA noun for judgment; it stresses reaching a conclusion through analysis, without the nuance of boldness.
  • Related決議けつぎFormalA formal noun for a resolution passed at a meeting, as in 「国連決議」; 「決断」 is about personal decisiveness.
  • Related議決ぎけつFormalA formal noun for a decision reached by a deliberative body such as a parliament after deliberation; legal and political usage.
  • Related取り決めるとりきめるNeutralA verb for two parties to settle or agree on something, as in 「条件を取り決める」.
  • Related思い立つおもいたつNeutralA verb for suddenly getting the idea to do something; it stresses the notion itself, while 「決断」 stresses decisively making the final call.
  • Related思い定めるおもいさだめるWrittenA written and rather rare verb for firmly making up one's mind.
  • Antonym優柔不断ゆうじゅうふだんNeutralA four-character idiom for being indecisive; it stands in direct contrast to 「決断」.
  • Antonym躊躇ちゅうちょWrittenA written noun for hesitating; it is the opposite of the decisiveness of 「決断」.

Use 「決断」 for a firm, decisive choice made without wavering, as in 「決断力」. For the resulting decision use 「決定」; for inner resolve use 「決心」 or the written 「決意」; for formal group resolutions 「決議」 and 「議決」; for agreeing on terms 「取り決める」; for judgment 「判断」. The everyday verb is 「決める」, and the opposites are 「優柔不断」 and 「躊躇」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 迷まよわずに意志いしを決きめること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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