Kimeru is the Japanese verb for ‘to decide’, explained

What does “kimeru” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “kimeru” normally to mean ‘to decide’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “kimeru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “kimeru”
  • Example #1: how to say “decide” in Japanese
• Kimenai: the nai form of “kimeru”
  • Example #2: how to say “not decide” in Japanese
• Kimeyou: the volitional form of “kimeru”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s decide” in Japanese
• Kimemasu: the masu form of “kimeru”
  • Example #4: how to say “decide” politely in Japanese
• Kimeta: the ta form of “kimeru”
  • Example #5: how to say “decided” in Japanese
• Kimete: the te form of “kimeru”
  • Example #6: how to say “please decide” in Japanese
• Kimereba: the ba form of “kimeru”
  • Example #7: how to say “if decide” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “kimeru”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “kimeru”.

• kimeru – 決める/極める (きめる) : a verb meaning ‘to decide’ in Japanese. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘to determine’ in Japanese.

“Kimeru” has two different kanji expressions. The first one is much more common, so basically we can focus on it.

The definition and meanings are simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “decide” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make the subject in the sentence.
• jinsei – 人生 (じんせい) : a noun meaning ‘life’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• no – の : a case particle joining two nouns or noun equivalent words. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this works to join “jinsei” and “subete”. The formed phrase literally means ‘everything in my life’ in Japanese.
• subete – 全て (すべて) : a noun meaning ‘everything’ in Japanese.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “jinsei no subete” to make the object in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “kimeru”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to decide’ in Japanese, anyway, this verb is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kimeru” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “kimenai”.

Kimenai: the nai form of “kimeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kimenai”.

• kimenai – 決めない/極めない (きめない) : the nai form of “kimeru”, which means ‘not to decide’ or ‘not to determine’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kimenai” consists of the following two parts:

• kime – 決め/極め (きめ) : one conjugation of “kimeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kimenai” is literally the nai form of “kimeru” and means ‘not to decide’ or ‘not to determine’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not decide” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• umare – 生まれ (うまれ) : a noun meaning ‘birth’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “umare” to make the subject in the sentence.
• kimi – 君 (きみ) : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “kimi” to make its possessive case, “kimi no”, which means ‘your’ in Japanese.
• unmei – 運命 (うんめい) : a noun meaning ‘destiny’ or ‘fate’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kimenai”. When we want to mean ‘not to decide’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Kimeyou: the volitional form of “kimeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kimeyou”.

• kimeyou – 決めよう/極めよう (きめよう) : the volitional form of “kimeru”, which expresses volition to decide or determine.

Grammatically, “kimeyou” consists of the following two parts:

• kime – 決め/極め (きめ) : one conjugation of “kimeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “you”.
• you – よう : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kimeyou” is literally the volitional form of “kimeru” and expresses volition to decide or determine. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s decide” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• touhyou – 投票 (とうひょう) : a noun meaning ‘vote’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• de – で : a case particle used to say what means or method someone uses to do something. In the example, this is used after “touhyou” to say “by vote” in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kimeyou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s decide” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.

Kimemasu: the masu form of “kimeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kimemasu”.

• kimemasu – 決めます/極めます (きめます) : the masu form of “kimeru”, which means ‘to decide’ or ‘to determine’ politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kimemasu” consists of the following two parts:

• kime – 決め/極め (きめ) : one conjugation of “kimeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
• masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kimemasu” is literally the masu form of “kimeru” and means ‘to decide’ or ‘to determine’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “decide” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its plural form, “watashi tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese.
• shourai – 将来 (しょうらい) : a noun meaning ‘future’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kimemasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “decide” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.

Kimeta: the ta form of “kimeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kimeta”.

• kimeta – 決めた/極めた (きめた) : the ta form of “kimeru”, which means ‘decided’, ‘determined’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kimeta” consists of the following two parts:

• kime – 決め/極め (きめ) : one conjugation of “kimeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kimeta” is literally the ta form of “kimeru” and means ‘decided’, ‘determined’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “decided” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• kodomo – 子供 (こども) : a noun meaning ‘child’ or ‘kid’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “kimeta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “kimeru”, this form is the best option.

Kimete: the te form of “kimeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kimete”.

• kimete – 決めて/極めて (きめて) : the te form of “kimeru”, which means ‘to decide’ or ‘to determine’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kimete” consists of the following two parts:

• kime – 決め/極め (きめ) : one conjugation of “kimeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kimete” is literally the te form of “kimeru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “kimete” is very useful when we want to use “kimeru” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to say “please decide” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• hayaku – 早く (はやく) : one conjugation of the i-adjective, “hayai“, which means ‘fast’, ‘quick’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’ in Japanese. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “kimete” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “kimete”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “kimeru” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Kimereba: the ba form of “kimeru”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “kimereba”.

• kimereba – 決めれば/極めれば (きめれば) : the ba form of “kimeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to decide’ or ‘to determine’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kimereba” consists of the following two parts:

• kimere – 決めれ/極めれ (きめれ) : one conjugation of “kimeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kimereba” is literally the ba form of “kimeru”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “kimereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to decide’ or ‘to determine’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if decide” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ima – 今 (いま) : an adverb meaning ‘now’ in Japanese.
• kae – 変え (かえ) : one conjugation of the verb, “kaeru”, which means ‘to change’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• rareru – られる : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its potential form. In the example, this is used after “kae” to make its potential form, “kae rareru”, which means ‘can change’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kimereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “ima kimereba”, which means ‘if you decide now’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to decide’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kimeru” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• kimeru – 決める/極める (きめる) : a verb meaning ‘to decide’ in Japanese. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘to determine’ in Japanese.
• kimenai – 決めない/極めない (きめない) : the nai form of “kimeru”, which means ‘not to decide’ or ‘not to determine’ in Japanese.
• kimeyou – 決めよう/極めよう (きめよう) : the volitional form of “kimeru”, which expresses volition to decide or determine.
• kimemasu – 決めます/極めます (きめます) : the masu form of “kimeru”, which means ‘to decide’ or ‘to determine’ politely in Japanese.
• kimeta – 決めた/極めた (きめた) : the ta form of “kimeru”, which means ‘decided’, ‘determined’, or such in Japanese.
• kimete – 決めて/極めて (きめて) : the te form of “kimeru”, which means ‘to decide’ or ‘to determine’ in Japanese. When we want to use “kimeru” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• kimereba – 決めれば/極めれば (きめれば) : the ba form of “kimeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to decide’ or ‘to determine’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.