决不

• Pinyin: jué bù
• Hanzi breakdown: 决 = 氵(water) + 夬, originally meaning water breaking through; 不 = pictograph of a flower calyx, used as negation

Meaning

Absolutely not; by no means; never. A strong emphatic negation.

An emphatic adverb used to express firm determination or absolute refusal. Stronger than simply saying 不 (not). Often used in promises, warnings, or declarations. Can be written as 决不 or 绝不 with the same meaning.

Examples

1. 我决不会让你失望的。 I will absolutely not let you down.
2. 这种事情决不能再发生了。 This kind of thing must never happen again.
3. 他决不同意出卖朋友。 He absolutely refuses to betray his friends.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, formal, emphatic

Tone: resolute

Do Say

• 我决不放弃！(I will absolutely not give up!)
• 这决不是巧合。(This is by no means a coincidence.)

Don't Say

• 我决不喝咖啡，有时候喝茶。(Don't use 决不 for preferences you're flexible about — it implies absolute resolve)

Origin & History

决 (jué, definitely/resolve) + 不 (bù, not). The combination creates an emphatic negation meaning 'definitely not.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal