決断（けつだん、ketsudan）
- decision

The Japanese word 決断, pronounced けつだん (ketsudan), means "decision," "determination," or "resolve." It signifies the act of making a firm choice or judgment, especially after careful consideration, often implying a degree of seriousness or consequence. It involves making a choice between different options and committing to a course of action. 決断 often carries a weight of responsibility.

⚫︎重要な決断 Translation: Important decision. ⚫︎人生における大きな決断 Translation: A big decision in life. ⚫︎決断を迫られる Translation: To be forced to make a decision.

⚫︎決断 is used in formal and informal situations. ⚫︎ It is used when talking about making a choice. ⚫︎ It is often used when the decision is significant or impactful. ⚫︎ It can describe a personal decision or a decision made by a group or organization.

⚫︎ The word is written in kanji as 決断. ⚫︎ The reading is けつだん in hiragana. ⚫︎ There are no other common ways to write this word. ⚫︎ The okurigana (送り仮名) "だん" is fixed.

⚫︎ 判断 (handan): judgment, decision, assessment ⚫︎ 決定 (kettei): decision, determination, resolution ⚫︎ 判断する (handan suru): to judge, to decide ⚫︎ 決心 (kesshin): determination, resolution

⚫︎ 迷う (mayou): to be lost, to hesitate, to be puzzled ⚫︎ ためらう (tamerau): to hesitate, to waver ⚫︎ 先延ばしにする (sakinobashi ni suru): to postpone, to put off

彼は会社の将来について、重大な決断を下した。 ・Translation: He made an important decision about the company's future. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates 決断 being used to describe a significant choice with potential consequences.

難しい問題だったが、彼はすぐに決断した。 ・Translation: Although it was a difficult problem, he decided immediately. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the speed and decisiveness associated with 決断.

⚫︎ 決断 is a compound word. ⚫︎ The first kanji 決 (ketsu) means "to decide," "to determine," or "to fix." ⚫︎ The second kanji 断 (dan) means "to cut off," "to sever," or "to judge." ⚫︎ Together, they literally mean "to cut off a decision," implying a decisive and final choice.