判断

• Reading: はんだん
• Romaji: handan
• Kanji breakdown: 判 (han) — judge, stamp; 断 (dan) — cut, decide
• Pronunciation: /haɴ.daɴ/

Meaning

Judgment; decision. The act of forming an opinion or making a decision after careful consideration.

A noun that functions as a suru verb (判断する). Used for decisions requiring analysis and evaluation — in business, medicine, law, and daily life. Common compounds: 判断力 (judgment ability), 判断基準 (criteria for judgment), 判断ミス (error in judgment). More analytical than 決断 which emphasizes willpower and resolve.

Examples

1. 状況を見て正しい判断をするのは難しい。 It's hard to make the right judgment based on the situation.
2. 医者の判断で手術をすることになった。 Based on the doctor's judgment, we decided to go ahead with the surgery.
3. 自分で判断できないときは誰かに相談しよう。 When you can't decide on your own, you should consult someone.

Usage Guide

Context: business, medicine, daily life

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 判 (han, judge/stamp) and 断 (dan, cut/decide). Together, 'cutting through to a judgment' — decisively evaluating a situation.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal