Japanese Conversation · Level 18
90 words
Japanese word
決める
Pronunciation
Romajikimeru
Meaning
- verbchoose, decide
Example
着る服を決めます。ki ru fuku o ki me ma su
I choose what to wear.
More examples
今日の遊びを決めます。kyō no aso bi o ki me ma su
I decide what to play today.
みんなで旅行の行き先を決めました。mi n na de ryo kō no i ki saki o ki me ma shi ta
We decided where to go on our trip.
Core concept
Describes settling on one option and treating it as the choice or plan to follow.
Common phrases
行き先を決めるi ki saki o ki me ru
decide where to go
予定を決めるyo tei o ki me ru
make plans
順番を決めるjun ban o ki me ru
decide the order
Similar words
選ぶerabu: To select one item or possibility from several options.
決定するketteisuru: To settle a choice, plan, or matter as the final decision.
Definition in Japanese
複数の候補から一つを選び、そうすると判断して定める。fuku sū no kō ho ka ra hito tsu o era bi sō su ru to han dan shi te sada me ru
Word origin
決める (kimeru) comes from the native verb 決む (kimu), meaning "to settle or determine," and preserves the action of making something settled, unlike 決まる (kimaru), "to become settled."
Usage tips
- Japanese uses 決める (kimeru) broadly for choosing an item and deciding a plan, so it can describe both a shirt and an appointment without changing verbs.