判決

• Reading: はんけつ
• Romaji: hanketsu
• Kanji breakdown: 判 (han) — to judge, to decide; 決 (ketsu) — to decide, to settle
• Pronunciation: /haɴ.ke.tsɯ/

Meaning

Judicial decision; verdict; sentence. The formal ruling issued by a court.

A noun and suru-verb referring to the official decision rendered by a judge at the conclusion of a trial. Common collocations include 判決を下す (to hand down a verdict), 有罪判決 (guilty verdict), and 無罪判決 (not guilty verdict).

Examples

1. 裁判所が判決を言い渡した。 The court handed down its verdict.
2. 判決に不満がある場合は控訴できる。 If you're dissatisfied with the verdict, you can appeal.
3. この事件の判決は社会に大きな影響を与えた。 The verdict in this case had a major impact on society.

Usage Guide

Context: law, news, court

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Composed of 判 (to judge, to decide) and 決 (to decide, to settle). Both characters emphasize the finality of a decision.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal