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B1 verb #3,000 am häufigsten 6 Min. Lesezeit

決心する

kesshin suru
At the A1 level, you can think of 'kesshin suru' as a very strong version of 'kimeru' (to decide). While you might not use it yourself often, you will see it in simple stories. It means someone has made a big choice in their heart. For example, 'I decided to study Japanese.' It is usually used with 'koto o' (decided the thing of...). Even at this level, remember it is for big things, not for choosing a color of a pen. It's like saying 'I really, really decided.'
At the A2 level, you should start to distinguish between 'kimeru' and 'kesshin suru.' Use 'kesshin suru' when the decision is personal and important. You will often see it in the past tense 'kesshin shimashita' (I have decided). It is useful for talking about your goals, like 'I decided to go to Japan next year.' You can also use the phrase 'kesshin ga tsuku' to say you finally were able to make a choice after thinking for a long time.
At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'kesshin suru' correctly in context. This word is perfect for discussing life changes, such as career moves or health resolutions. You should understand how to use it with different grammar patterns like 'Verb-dictionary form + koto ni kesshin suru' or 'Verb-volitional + to kesshin suru.' You should also recognize common adverbs that go with it, like 'kataku' (firmly) or 'tsuini' (finally). It is a key word for expressing determination in intermediate conversations.
At the B2 level, you should understand the nuance between 'kesshin,' 'ketsui,' and 'kakugo.' 'Kesshin suru' is your internal resolution. You can use it in more complex sentences, such as 'Having seen the poverty in the village, he resolved to become a doctor.' You should also be able to use the noun form 'kesshin' in phrases like 'kesshin o katameru' (to strengthen one's resolve) or 'kesshin o hirugaesu' (to reverse one's resolution). It is a versatile word for describing character development in literature or news.
At the C1 level, you should be able to appreciate the rhetorical weight of 'kesshin suru' in formal speeches and high literature. It often appears in discussions about ethics, philosophy, and major historical turning points. You should be comfortable using it to describe the psychological state of a person who has overcome great internal conflict. You can use it to analyze characters in Japanese novels, discussing whether their 'kesshin' was driven by external pressure or internal conviction. It's about the 'will' as a concept.
At the C2 level, you possess a native-like grasp of 'kesshin suru.' You understand its subtle placement in a narrative to signal a climax. You can use it ironically or metaphorically. You are aware of its historical connotations and how it differs from more modern or loan-word equivalents. You can discuss the nuances of 'kesshin' versus 'ketsudan' (a decisive judgment) in a corporate or political context. Your usage is precise, capturing the exact moment of internal transformation with perfect grammatical accompaniment.
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決心する in 30 Sekunden

  • Kesshin suru means to resolve or make up one's mind about something significant and personal.
  • It is a suru-verb that combines 'decision' (ketsu) and 'heart' (shin), indicating deep commitment.
  • Commonly used for life changes like quitting smoking, starting a career, or getting married.
  • It differs from 'kimeru' (general deciding) and 'kettei' (official/group deciding) by its internal focus.

The Japanese verb 決心する (kesshin suru) is a profound expression that translates to 'to resolve' or 'to make up one's mind.' At its core, it is a compound of two kanji: 決 (ketsu), meaning to decide, settle, or determine, and 心 (shin), meaning heart, mind, or spirit. Unlike the more common verb 決める (kimeru), which can refer to mundane choices like what to eat for lunch, kesshin suru implies a significant internal shift. It suggests that the decision has reached the 'heart,' indicating a firm, often life-altering commitment. When you use this word, you are signaling that you have moved past hesitation and are now prepared to face the consequences of your choice. It is the bridge between thought and action, the moment a possibility becomes a personal mission.

Etymological Nuance
The 'heart' (心) component signifies that the decision is not merely logical but emotional and spiritual. It involves the totality of one's being.
Usage Intensity
It carries a weight of 8/10 on the 'seriousness' scale, making it ideal for resolutions regarding career, marriage, or personal growth.

「私はついに、タバコをやめることを決心した。」

— (I have finally resolved to quit smoking.)

In a psychological context, 決心する represents the 'Rubicon' moment—the point of no return. In Japanese culture, where harmony and group consensus are often prioritized, the act of individual kesshin is seen as a mark of strong character and maturity. It is frequently used in literature and film to denote the turning point of a protagonist's journey. Whether it is a samurai deciding to serve a new lord or a modern student deciding to study abroad, the word encapsulates the gravity of the human will.

「留学することを決心するのは、簡単なことではなかった。」

(Resolving to study abroad was not an easy thing.)

Synonym Contrast
Compared to 決定する (kettei suru), which is often used for official or group decisions, 決心する is deeply personal.

Grammatically, 決心する is a 'suru-verb' (noun + suru). It functions as a transitive verb, typically taking the particle を (o) to indicate the object of the resolution, or following a verb in its dictionary form plus ことに (koto ni). For example, 'I resolved to go' becomes 行くことに決心した. However, it is also common to see it used with と (to) when expressing an internal thought or quote: 'I resolved that I would win' (勝とうと決心した).

  • Noun + を + 決心する: 離婚を決心する (To resolve to divorce).
  • Verb (Plain) + ことに + 決心する: 日本に住むことに決心した (I resolved to live in Japan).
  • Verb (Volitional) + と + 決心する: 毎日走ろうと決心した (I resolved to run every day).

「彼はついに医者になることを決心した。」

(He finally resolved to become a doctor.)

The tense of the verb is crucial. Using the past tense 決心した (kesshin shita) implies the decision has already been made and the person is now in a state of resolve. Using the present/future tense 決心する (kesshin suru) often describes the act of making the decision itself or a general habit of being decisive. In many contexts, it is paired with adverbs like tsuini (finally) or yōyaku (at last) to emphasize the period of hesitation that preceded the resolution.

「固く決心することで、道は開ける。」

(By resolving firmly, the path will open.)

Collocation 1
固く決心する (kataku kesshin suru) - To resolve firmly.
Collocation 2
決心が揺らぐ (kesshin ga yuragu) - One's resolution wavers.

You will encounter 決心する in various high-stakes environments. In Business and Career, it appears when someone is leaving a stable job to start a venture or when a CEO makes a major strategic pivot. In Sports, athletes use it when discussing their comeback after an injury or their retirement. In Personal Relationships, it is the standard term for deciding to propose, break up, or reconcile. It is also a staple of Self-Help and motivational literature in Japan, often appearing in titles like 'The Power of Resolve' (決心する力).

「プロの道に進むことを決心しました。」

(I have resolved to pursue a professional career.) - Common in athlete interviews.

In media, specifically Anime and Drama, the word is often shouted or whispered during a moment of 'Power Up' or character growth. When a character says, 「決心したんだ！」 (I've made up my mind!), it usually signals a shift from a passive role to an active one. It is also used in Legal or Formal contexts, though kettei is more common for the actual verdict, kesshin might describe the judge's internal process of reaching that verdict.

「彼女は一人で生きていくと決心した。」

(She resolved to live on her own.) - Common in literary fiction.

Daily Life
Used when starting a diet, a new hobby, or a major purchase.
Literature
Used to describe the internal struggle of a protagonist.

The most frequent error for learners is using 決心する for trivial matters. If you say 'I resolved to buy this coffee,' native speakers will find it humorous or confusingly dramatic. For daily choices, use 決める (kimeru). Another mistake is confusing it with 決定する (kettei suru). While both mean 'to decide,' kettei is for external, formal, or group decisions (e.g., 'The meeting time was decided'), whereas kesshin is strictly internal and personal.

❌ 「今日の昼ご飯を決心した。」

✅ 「今日の昼ご飯を決めた。」

Another nuance involves the particle usage. Learners often forget that kesshin suru is a verb of 'internal state change.' You cannot 'resolve' someone else. You can 'make someone decide' (決心させる), but you cannot 'resolve' a situation using this word—that would be kaiketsu suru (to solve) or kettei suru (to decide). Also, be careful with the phrase 'kesshin ga tsuku' (to reach a resolution/to be able to decide). This is an intransitive construction often used when the decision was difficult to reach.

「なかなか決心がつかない。」

(I just can't make up my mind / I can't reach a resolution.)

Mistake 1
Using it for 'deciding' a date or time (Use 決める/決定する).
Mistake 2
Using it for 'deciding' on a menu item (Use 決める).

Understanding the synonyms of 決心する helps refine your Japanese expression. The most direct relative is 決意する (ketsui suru). While nearly identical, ketsui is more formal and often implies a public or official declaration of intent. Think of kesshin as 'heart-decision' and ketsui as 'will-decision.' Another similar word is 覚悟する (kakugo suru), which means 'to be prepared for the worst' or 'to be ready for the consequences.' While kesshin is about the choice, kakugo is about the mental preparation for what follows that choice.

「死ぬ覚悟はできている。」

(I am prepared to die.) - Much heavier than 決心.

Then there is 断定する (dantei suru), which means 'to conclude' or 'to judge' based on evidence, and 志す (kokorozasu), which means 'to aim for' or 'to set one's heart on' a long-term goal or career. If kesshin suru is the spark, kokorozasu is the long-burning flame of ambition. Lastly, 思い切る (omoikiru) means 'to take the plunge' or 'to give up on a lingering doubt.' It emphasizes the act of cutting off hesitation, whereas kesshin emphasizes the formation of the new intent.

「彼は画家になることを志した。」

(He set his heart on becoming a painter.)

Word 1
決意 (Ketsui) - Formal, strong will.
Word 2
覚悟 (Kakugo) - Mental readiness for negative outcomes.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

""

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Wichtige Grammatik

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

日本に行くことを決心しました。

I decided to go to Japan.

Noun + を + 決心しました

2

勉強することを決心した。

I resolved to study.

Verb + こと + を + 決心した

3

彼はやめることを決心した。

He resolved to quit.

Plain form verb + こと

4

私は決心しました！

I have made up my mind!

Standard polite past tense

5

明日から走ると決心した。

I resolved to run from tomorrow.

Verb + と + 決心した

6

お菓子を食べないと決心した。

I resolved not to eat sweets.

Negative verb + と

7

彼女は決心した顔をしていた。

She had a determined face.

Noun modification

8

ついに決心しましたか？

Have you finally decided?

Question form

1

タバコをやめることに決心した。

I resolved to quit smoking.

ことに + 決心した

2

一人で住むことを決心しました。

I resolved to live alone.

Focus on the 'koto' object

3

新しい仕事を始めようと決心した。

I resolved to start a new job.

Volitional form + と

4

彼はついに結婚を決心した。

He finally resolved to get married.

Direct noun object

5

毎日日記を書こうと決心しました。

I resolved to write a diary every day.

Volitional + と

6

なかなか決心がつきません。

I can't quite make up my mind.

決心がつく (intransitive phrase)

7

彼女の決心は固いです。

Her resolution is firm.

Noun usage with adjective

8

もう一度頑張ることを決心した。

I resolved to try hard once more.

Adverbial 'mou ichido'

1

海外で働くことを固く決心した。

I firmly resolved to work abroad.

固く (firmly) adverbial use

2

会社を辞めて、独立することを決心した。

I resolved to quit the company and become independent.

Te-form connecting actions

3

彼女は真実を話そうと決心した。

She resolved to tell the truth.

Volitional + と

4

両親を説得しようと決心しました。

I resolved to persuade my parents.

Volitional form

5

ついに離婚を決心する時が来た。

The time has finally come to resolve to divorce.

Noun + suru + toki

6

彼はプロの選手になると決心した。

He resolved to become a professional player.

Naru + koto / Naru + to

7

一度決心したら、後戻りはできない。

Once you've resolved, there's no going back.

Tara (conditional) form

8

彼女の決心を変えることは難しい。

It is difficult to change her resolution.

Noun form as object

1

長年の夢だった店を持つことを決心した。

I resolved to have the shop that had been my dream for many years.

Relative clause + koto

2

彼は過去を捨てて、新しく出直す決心をした。

He resolved to throw away the past and make a fresh start.

Te-form + noun modification

3

周囲の反対を押し切って、留学を決心した。

Pushing past the opposition of those around him, he resolved to study abroad.

Oshikiru (to push through)

4

彼女は自分の足で歩んでいくことを決心した。

She resolved to walk on her own two feet (be independent).

Metaphorical usage

5

その一言が、私の決心を揺るぎないものにした。

That one word made my resolution unshakable.

Yuruginai (unshakable)

6

苦渋の決断の末、彼は引退を決心した。

After a painful decision, he resolved to retire.

No sue (after a process)

7

彼は全財産を寄付することを決心した。

He resolved to donate his entire fortune.

Zen-zaisan (entire fortune)

8

決心が鈍らないうちに、行動に移すべきだ。

You should take action before your resolution weakens.

Uchi ni (while/before)

1

彼は己の信念を貫くべく、死を辞さない決心をした。

In order to carry out his beliefs, he resolved not to shrink from death.

Beku (in order to) + Jisanai (not shrink from)

2

その惨状を目の当たりにし、彼女は生涯を捧げる決心をした。

Witnessing the tragedy, she resolved to dedicate her life (to the cause).

Sasageru (to dedicate)

3

組織の腐敗を正すため、彼は内部告発を決心した。

To correct the corruption of the organization, he resolved to become a whistleblower.

Naibu-kokuhatsu (whistleblowing)

4

彼は沈黙を破り、すべてを公表することを決心した。

Breaking his silence, he resolved to make everything public.

Chinmoku o yaburu (break silence)

5

運命に抗い、自らの手で未来を切り拓く決心をした。

Resisting fate, he resolved to carve out the future with his own hands.

Kirihiraku (carve out/pioneer)

6

彼女の瞳には、何者にも屈しない強い決心が宿っていた。

In her eyes dwelt a strong resolution that would yield to no one.

Yadoru (to dwell/reside)

7

彼は家督を捨て、一介の浪人として生きる決心をした。

He resolved to cast aside his family inheritance and live as a mere ronin.

Ikkai no (a mere/simple)

8

その決心が、歴史の歯車を大きく動かすこととなった。

That resolution ended up moving the gears of history significantly.

Koto to natta (resulted in)

1

実存的危機に直面し、彼は自己の再定義を決心するに至った。

Facing an existential crisis, he reached the point of resolving to redefine himself.

Ni itatta (reached the point of)

2

伝統の重圧を撥ね退け、彼女は独自の様式を確立する決心をした。

Repelling the pressure of tradition, she resolved to establish her own style.

Hanenokeru (to repel/reject)

3

彼は権力への執着を断ち切り、隠遁生活を送る決心をした。

Cutting off his attachment to power, he resolved to lead a life of seclusion.

Inton (seclusion/hermitage)

4

その決心は、論理的帰結というよりは、むしろ直感的な飛躍であった。

That resolution was an intuitive leap rather than a logical consequence.

Yori wa mushiro (rather than)

5

不条理な世界において、彼は誠実に生きることのみを決心した。

In an absurd world, he resolved only to live with sincerity.

Fujouri (absurdity)

6

彼は自らの過ちを清算すべく、法の裁きを受ける決心をした。

In order to liquidate his mistakes, he resolved to face the judgment of the law.

Seisan (liquidation/settling accounts)

7

彼女の決心は、静謐な中にも烈火のごとき情熱を秘めていた。

Her resolution, though serene, hid a passion like a raging fire.

Seihitsu (serenity) + Rekka (raging fire)

8

万策尽きた彼は、最後の手段としてその禁忌を破る決心をした。

Having exhausted all options, he resolved to break the taboo as a last resort.

Bansaku tsukita (at one's wits' end)

Häufige Kollokationen

固く決心する
決心がつく
決心を固める
決心が揺らぐ
決心を促す
決心を翻す
決心を変える
重大な決心
決心の末に
決心を伝える

Häufige Phrasen

決心がつかない

決心を新たにする

決心の一歩

固い決心

決心の時

決心を鈍らせる

決心を貫く

決心を固める

決心した以上は

決心を促される

Wird oft verwechselt mit

決心する vs 決める

General decision, can be minor.

決心する vs 決定する

Formal, official, or group decision.

決心する vs 解決する

To solve a problem, not to make a resolution.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

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Leicht verwechselbar

決心する vs

決心する vs

決心する vs

決心する vs

決心する vs

Satzmuster

So verwendest du es

particle choice

Use 'o' for a direct object (noun) and 'to' for a quoted thought.

emotional weight

Always implies a sense of 'no turning back'.

Häufige Fehler
  • Using it for choosing a movie to watch.
  • Using it for choosing a shirt to wear.
  • Confusing it with 'kaiketsu' (solving a problem).
  • Forgetting the 'suru' in the verb form.
  • Using it for group decisions (like a government deciding a law).

Tipps

Big Decisions Only

Save this word for things that actually matter to your future.

Volitional Pair

Pair it with the volitional form (e.g., ikou to kesshin shita) for a natural sound.

New Year

Use it when talking about your New Year's resolutions.

Character Arc

In stories, use it to mark the moment a character stops being afraid.

Tone

Lower your pitch slightly to emphasize the seriousness of the resolution.

Firm Adverbs

Use 'kataku' (firmly) to make your resolution sound even stronger.

Not for Groups

Don't use it for 'The committee resolved...' Use 'kettei' or 'ketsugi'.

Wait for the 'Shin'

When you hear 'shin', think 'heart'—this is a personal matter.

Kanji Breakdown

Decide + Heart = Resolve. Simple and effective.

Hara o katameru

Learn the idiom 'hara o katameru' to sound more like a native speaker.

Einprägen

Wortherkunft

Sino-Japanese (Kango)

Kultureller Kontext

Many Japanese people write their 'kesshin' on a kakizome (first calligraphy of the year).

The concept of 'kesshin' is tied to the historical 'bushido' code of making a life-or-death commitment.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Gesprächseinstiege

"最近、何か決心したことはありますか？"

"どうしてその道に進むと決心したんですか？"

"決心が揺らいだ時、どうしますか？"

"人生で一番大きな決心は何でしたか？"

"なかなか決心がつかない時、誰に相談しますか？"

Tagebuch-Impulse

今日、私が決心したことについて書く。

10年前に決心したことが、今の自分にどう影響しているか。

決心することの難しさと大切さについて。

もしあの時決心していなかったら、どうなっていたか。

将来のために今、決心すべきことは何か。

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, it's too dramatic. Use 'kimeru' instead. 'Kesshin suru' is for life-changing choices.

'Kesshin' is personal and internal. 'Ketsui' is more formal and often shared with others.

Yes, but usually for major career moves or starting a company, not for daily tasks.

You can say 'kesshin ga tsukanai' if it's a big decision, or 'mayotte iru' if you are just unsure.

Yes, 'kesshin' is a noun meaning 'resolution' or 'determination'.

It is transitive (uses 'o'), but the phrase 'kesshin ga tsuku' is intransitive.

Usually 'koto o' or 'to'.

Yes, 'Kare wa kesshin shita' (He resolved).

No, it is very common in modern Japanese.

'Chuucho' (hesitation) or 'mayoi' (doubt).

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