‘判断’ (pànduàn) is a compound word formed from two characters that both mean ‘to decide’ or ‘to determine’: 判 (pàn) suggests making an official or reasoned decision, while 断 (duàn) conveys cutting off uncertainty—literally ‘to sever’ doubt. Together, they express the mental process of evaluating information to reach a conclusion. As a verb, it means ‘to judge’, ‘to assess’, or ‘to determine’; as a noun, it means ‘judgment’ or ‘assessment’.

This word is commonly used in contexts requiring reasoning or evaluation—such as analyzing evidence, forming opinions, interpreting behavior, or assessing risk. It often appears in formal, academic, or professional settings (e.g., law, medicine, education), but also occurs naturally in daily conversation when expressing personal conclusions: ‘我判断他不太高兴’ (I judge he’s not very happy). Unlike more casual words like 觉得 (juéde, ‘to feel/think’), 判断 implies a degree of deliberation and objectivity.