确实確實 quèshí — indeed, really, truly (confirming something already checked)
Traditional: 確實
indeed, really, truly (confirming something already checked)
Meanings
indeed, really, truly (confirming something already checked)
确, firm and certain, and 实, solid fact — confirming that something already checked, seen or heard is indeed true. It looks backward at a fact, unlike 一定, which looks forward and promises something not yet certain.
adverbtrue, verified, real
adjectiveBefore a noun, the same word becomes an adjective for information that has been checked: 确实的消息, verified news, as against a rumour nobody has confirmed.
Example sentences
- 他确实说过这句话，我听见了。他確實說過這句話，我聽見了。Tā (first tone, high and level) quèshí (fourth tone, falling) shuōguo (first tone, high and level) zhè (fourth tone, falling) jù (fourth tone, falling) huà, (fourth tone, falling) wǒ (third tone, dipping) tīngjiàn (first tone, high and level) le. (neutral tone)···
He really did say that — I heard it.
- 这个消息确实吗？你是从哪儿知道的？這個消息確實嗎？你是從哪兒知道的？Zhège (fourth tone, falling) xiāoxi (first tone, high and level) quèshí (fourth tone, falling) ma? (neutral tone) Nǐ (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling) cóng (second tone, rising) nǎr (third tone, dipping) zhīdào (first tone, high and level) de? (neutral tone)···
Is this news verified? Where did you find out about it?
Common mistakes
Not quite他确实会来，你放心吧。
Correct他一定会来，你放心吧。
确实 confirms something already true or already checked — a fact, a past event. 一定 promises or predicts something not yet certain. Vouching for the future needs 一定, not 确实.