決める

• Reading: きめる
• Romaji: kimeru
• Kanji breakdown: 決 (ketsu/ki) — decide; water radical (氵) + 夬 (to break through)
• Pronunciation: /ki.me.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To decide; to determine; to choose; to make up one's mind about something.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb. The intransitive counterpart is 決まる (kimaru, to be decided). Often used with か to express a question about what to decide: 何にするか決めた? In casual speech, 決めた! (decided!) is a common exclamation after making a choice.

Examples

1. 旅行の日にちを決めましょう。 Let's decide on a date for the trip.
2. 何を食べるか決めましたか。 Have you decided what to eat?
3. 新しい仕事に決めました。 I decided on a new job.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, work, planning

Tone: decisive

Origin & History

The kanji 決 combines the water radical (氵) with 夬 (to break through), suggesting water breaking through a dam — representing a decisive breakthrough or resolution.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal