思い切った

• Reading: おもいきった
• Romaji: omoikitta
• Kanji breakdown: 思 (omo/shi) — thought, feeling | 切 (ki/setsu) — cut, decisive
• Pronunciation: /o.mo.i.kit.ta/

Meaning

Bold; daring; drastic; decisive. Describes an action or decision that goes further than expected or requires significant courage.

The past/adjectival form of 思い切る (to make up one's mind decisively, to go all-out). Used attributively: 思い切った決断 (a bold decision), 思い切った改革 (drastic reform). The nuance is of crossing a mental threshold — committing fully rather than hedging. Can describe both courageous choices and extreme measures depending on context. Common in business, politics, and personal life narratives.

Examples

1. 思い切った方針転換が功を奏し、会社は経営危機を乗り越えることができた。 The bold change of direction paid off, and the company was able to overcome the management crisis.
2. 彼女は思い切った決断で仕事を辞め、ずっと夢だった道を選んだ。 She made the decisive choice to quit her job and pursue the path she had always dreamed of.
3. 思い切った改革を断行しなければ、この組織に未来はないと彼は訴えた。 He argued that without carrying out drastic reforms, this organisation had no future.

Usage Guide

Context: business, politics, personal decisions, praise

Tone: decisive

Origin & History

From 思い切る (omoikiru): 思い (thought, feeling) + 切る (to cut, to cut through). The image is of cutting through hesitation to reach a decisive resolution.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal