決まり

• Reading: きまり
• Romaji: kimari
• Kanji breakdown: 決 (ketsu/ki) — to decide, to settle
• Pronunciation: /ki.ma.ɾi/

Meaning

Rule; regulation; settlement; conclusion. An established standard or agreed-upon decision.

The noun form of 決まる (to be decided). Has two main uses: rules or customs that people follow (学校の決まり — school rules), and the state of something being settled (決まりがつく — to reach a settlement). Also used in the expression お決まりの (the usual, customary). Less formal than 規則 (kisoku — regulation).

Examples

1. 学校の決まりでスマホは使えない。 School rules say we can't use our phones.
2. この村には古い決まりが残っている。 This village still has old rules that have been preserved.
3. やっと仕事の決まりがついた。 Things finally got settled with my job.

Usage Guide

Context: school, community, workplace

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Derived from the verb 決まる (kimaru — to be decided, to be settled). The kanji 決 contains 水 (water) and 夬 (to break through), evoking the image of water breaking through a dam — a decisive resolution.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal