Chinese word

下决心

Pronunciation

Pinyinxià jué xīn

Meaning

  • verbmake up one's mind

Example

我已经下决心要学好汉语。wǒ yǐ jīng xià jué xīn yào xué hǎo hàn yǔ

I have already made up my mind to learn Chinese well.

Illustration for 下决心 (make up one's mind)

More examples

为了健康，他下决心每天跑步半小时。wèi le jiàn kāng tā xià jué xīn měi tiān pǎo bù bàn xiǎo shí

For his health, he made up his mind to run for half an hour every day.

Core concept

The point where thinking ends and firm resolve begins, even when difficulty remains.

Common phrases

  • 下决心戒烟xià jué xīn jiè yān

    decide to quit smoking

  • 下决心开始学习xià jué xīn kāi shǐ xué xí

    make up one's mind to start studying

  • 下决心不再拖延xià jué xīn bú zài tuō yán

    decide to stop procrastinating

Similar words

决定jué dìng: To decide clearly what to do.
打算dǎ suàn: To plan or intend to do something in advance.
决心jué xīn: To resolve firmly to do something.
坚持jiān chí: To keep doing something despite difficulties and not give up.

Definition in Chinese

把自己的主意或意志确定下来，准备按此打算去做，常含有克服顾虑或困难的决心。bǎ zì jǐ de zhǔ yì huò yì zhì què dìng xià lái zhǔn bèi àn cǐ dǎ suàn qù zuò cháng hán yǒu kè fú gù lǜ huò kùn nán de jué xīn

Word origin

下决心 (xiàjuéxīn, "make up one's mind") joins the idea of setting something down with 决心 (juéxīn, "determination"), creating the image of placing a decision firmly within the heart.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may connect this expression mainly with choosing between options, but Chinese also uses it for resolving to endure a challenge or change a habit.

Other meanings

  • steel oneselfverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 决心jué xīndeterminationnoun
  • 下定决心xià dìng jué xīnmake a firm decisionidiom

Word lists with this word