crucial point; decisive moment
Refers to the critical juncture or key factor in a situation where a decision or outcome is determined.
交渉の決め所は価格だ。
The crucial point in the negotiation is the price.
試合の決め所でミスをした。
I made a mistake at the decisive moment of the match.
perfect chance; golden opportunity
Used when a favorable moment arises to achieve something; often implies seizing the right timing.
今が頼む決め所だ。
Now is the perfect chance to ask.
彼は決め所を逃さなかった。
He didn't miss his golden opportunity.
分かれ目 is a 'turning point' or 'fork in the road', emphasizing a branching of outcomes rather than a decisive action.
Standard kanji spelling.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; common in everyday writing.
Rarely used kanji form; 極め can imply 'decisive' or 'extreme'.
Compound of 決め (kime, 'deciding') + 所 (tokoro/dokoro, 'place'). The reading どころ is a rendaku form of ところ.