Japanese word

決め手

Pronunciation

Romajikimete

Meaning

  • noundeciding factor

Example

これが勝敗の決め手です。ko re ga shō hai no ki me te de su

This is the deciding factor in the outcome.

Illustration for 決め手 (deciding factor)

More examples

価格の安さだけでは、契約を得る決め手になりません。ka kaku no yasu sa da ke de wa kei yaku o u ru ki me te ni na ri ma se n

A low price alone is not enough to secure the contract.

Core concept

Points to the decisive element that turns several possible outcomes into one final result.

Common phrases

  • 決め手になるki me te ni na ru

    be the deciding factor

  • 決め手を欠くki me te o ka ku

    lack a decisive factor

Similar words

決定打ketteida: An action, fact, or factor that decisively settles the result.
決定要因ketteiyōin: A factor that has the strongest influence on the final result.

Definition in Japanese

物事の成否や勝敗を最終的に決める要因。mono goto no sei hi ya shō hai o sai shū teki ni ki me ru yō in

Word origin

決め手 (kimete) is a native compound of 決め (kime, "decision") and 手 (te, "means or method"), naming what brings an outcome to a decision.

Usage tips

  • Japanese commentary uses 決め手 (kimete) for more than physical actions, including evidence, policies, and other factors that determine an outcome.

Other meanings

  • clinchernoun

Word lists with this word