区别辨析decide、determine、resolve与settle

decide、determine、resolve与settle这些动词都含“决定”之意。

decide : 侧重指经过思考、比较、讨论或询问之后做出的决定。

  • They have to decide by next Friday.
    他们必须在下周五前作出决定。
  • It doesn't matter to me which one we have - you decide.
    我不在乎给我们哪个——你来决定吧。
  • In the end, we decided to go to the theatre.
    最后我们决定去剧院。

determine : 指经过深思熟虑,决心去做某事并坚持施行。

  • The number of staff we can take on will be determined by how much money we're allowed to spend.
    我们雇用的人数将取决于可支配资金的多少。
  • Your health is determined in part by what you eat.
    在某种程度上你的健康状况取决于你的饮食。

resolve : 语气较强,强调以坚定不移的信念去做或不做某事,暗含有远大抱负和坚强决心。

  • She resolved that she would never speak to him again.
    她决心再也不理他。
  • After hours of argument, they resolved against taking legal action.
    经过几个小时的争论,他们决定不提起诉讼。

settle : 指排除犹豫、怀疑和争论之后作出明确的最终结论。

  • Good, that's all settled - you send out the invitations for the party, and I'll organize the food.
    好,那就这么定了——你发聚会的请帖,我来准备吃的。
  • They haven't yet settled when the wedding is going to be.
    他们还没有确定婚礼在什么时候举行。