做决定

Using it is straightforward. You can use it alone or add a person who needs to do the choosing. For example, 我还没做决定 (I haven't made a decision yet). If you want to emphasize a difficult choice, add an adjective like 很难 (very hard). You can also say 由你做决定 (it's up to you to decide). It feels very natural in almost any sentence structure.

Use it whenever a choice is on the table. It works perfectly at a restaurant when the waiter is hovering. It is great for texting a friend about weekend plans. It is also the standard term in a business meeting. If there is a fork in the road, 做决定 is the map.

Don't use it for tiny, subconscious actions. You don't 'make a decision' to blink or breathe. Also, if you are just 'thinking' about something, use 考虑. 做决定 implies the thinking is over and the choice is made. Avoid using it for 'deciding to do something' as a verb; in that case, just use 决定 by itself.

In Chinese culture, making a decision often involves 'giving face' to others. You might hear people say 你做决定吧 to show respect to a guest or elder. It is a way of being polite and flexible. However, in modern, fast-paced cities like Shanghai, being able to 赶快做决定 (make a decision quickly) is highly valued. Decisions are often seen as collective rather than purely individual.

If you want to sound more formal, you might use 做出决定. To sound more casual or urgent, you might just say 定下来 (settle it). If the decision is final and unchangeable, people might say 拿定主意. But for 90% of your daily life, 做决定 is the gold standard.