'判决' (pànjué) is a formal noun meaning 'verdict' or 'ruling'—the official decision handed down by a judge or court after a trial. The first character 判 (pàn) means 'to judge' or 'to decide', while the second character 决 (jué) means 'to determine' or 'to resolve'. Together, they emphasize a definitive, authoritative legal conclusion—not just an opinion, but a binding outcome. This word appears almost exclusively in judicial, administrative, or official contexts, such as court proceedings, legal documents, or news reports about litigation.

Unlike more general terms like '决定' (decision) or '意见' (opinion), '判决' carries strong legal weight and implies due process has been followed. It is commonly used with verbs like '作出' (to issue), '宣布' (to announce), or '执行' (to enforce). You’ll rarely hear it in casual speech; instead, it belongs to formal written Chinese and professional legal discourse—similar in register to English terms like 'judgment' or 'court order'.