決める vs 定める
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 決める
Listen to 定める
| 決める | 定める |
|---|---|
ki-ME-ru verb (transitive) | さだめる verb (transitive) |
| to decide; to choose; to determine | to establish; to set; to determine (rules, laws, standards) |
How they differ
定める carries an authoritative or formal nuance of establishing rules, laws, standards, or principles, whereas 決める is broader and used for ordinary decisions and choices.
When to use each
When to use 決める: Prefer 決める for routine or personal decisions and when casual phrasing is appropriate.
When to use 定める: Prefer 定める when referring to formally setting rules, policies, standards, or officially defining something.
Side-by-side examples
- 私たちでルールを決めよう。
(Let's decide the rules ourselves.) - 国は新しい安全基準を定めた。
(The government established new safety standards.)
Register & nuance: 定める is more formal and is often found in legal, bureaucratic, or written contexts compared with the everyday 決める.