日本語道場

Nihongo Dojo — N3 → N2

Grammar

N3

~と決まっている

~to kimatte iru

it's a given that

When to use it

Use ~と決まっている when stating something as fixed by rule, precedent, or the nature of things — company policy, standing schedules, or the kind of outcome that always follows. In business writing it carries an impersonal, non-negotiable tone: the speaker isn't deciding, merely reporting a settled fact. The inevitability sense ("it's always the case that…") is close to 必ず~ and often appears with a hint of resignation.

Formation

  • Verb (plain, any tense) + と決まっている: 提出する + と決まっている / 使えない + と決まっている
  • い-adjective (plain) + と決まっている: 忙しい + と決まっている
  • な-adjective + だ + と決まっている: 必要だ + と決まっている
  • Noun + だ + と決まっている: 現金払いだ + と決まっている
  • Nouns of time/place/quantity often attach directly (or via から・まで): 十時から + と決まっている
  • Common negations: ~と決まっているわけではない / ~と決まったわけではない ("it isn't necessarily settled that…")
  • 決まっている = the standing state; 決まっ = the moment the decision was made

Examples

  • The regular meeting is set for Mondays at ten.

  • New accounts are required to clear a credit review.

  • Last-minute spec changes always throw the team into chaos.

  • I hear they're required to get quotes from three vendors.

  • It hasn't been settled that we'll agree to a discount.