<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<meta name="generator" content="HTML Tidy for HTML5 for Linux version 5.2.0"/>
<title></title>
<link href="../Styles/main.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
<link href="../Styles/main.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet"/>
</head>
<body>
<p>If you look up <span class="hanzi">肯定</span> (<span class="pinyin">kěndìng</span>), <span class="hanzi">确定</span> (<span class="pinyin">quèdìng</span>) and <span class="hanzi">一定</span> (<span class="pinyin">yīdìng</span>) in the dictionary, they all have similar meanings, like "<b>certain</b>" or "<b>surely</b>." However, using them correctly in a sentence is a bit more complicated.</p>
<h2 id="overview-概述">Overview <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal;">概述</span></h2>
<p>So how are these three words words different? We can answer this question from two points of view:</p>
<p>1. From a "parts of speech" point of view:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">肯定</span> can be a <b>verb</b>, an <b>adjective</b> and an <b>adverb</b>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">确定</span> can be a <b>verb</b> or an <b>adjective</b>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">一定</span> can be an <b>adjective</b> or an <b>adverb</b>.</li>
</ul>
<p>2. From a "significance or meaning" point of view:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">肯定</span> often has a subjective, energetic feel to it. It carries meanings like <span class="hanzi">认可</span> (approval), <span class="hanzi">同意 </span>(<b>agreement</b>), and <span class="hanzi">保证</span> (<b>guarantee</b>).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">确定</span> carries a feeling of objectively describing a situation. It carries the meaning of <span class="hanzi">决定</span> (<b>to decide, to resolve</b>).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">一定</span> as an <b>adjective</b> has really broad uses, so you need to pay attention to the specific times it's used in. As an <b>adverb</b>, it is often used to give a reinforcing tone.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">肯定</span> and <span class="hanzi">确定</span> can both be <b>verbs</b>, but their use and meanings are different. <span class="hanzi">一定</span> <b>cannot be used as a verb</b>.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="肯定-and-确定-as-a-verb">"<span class="hanzist">肯定</span>" and "<span class="hanzist">确定</span>" as a Verb</h2>
<h3 id="structure-with-肯定">Structure with <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal;">肯定</span></h3>
<p><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 0); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 22px;">肯定</span> can express that something is satisfactory (<span class="hanzi">对…满意</span>), often used when a superior evaluates subordinates. When used this way, it should be followed directly by a noun or a phrase that is acting as a noun (noun phrase).</p>
<div class="jiegou"><div class="deux"><span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">肯定</span> + Noun / Noun Phrase</div>
</div>
<p>I can also be used to express "<b>I am sure</b>." When used this way it is usually a clause at the end of a sentence.</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<div class="deux">Subj. + <span class="hanzist">(敢)肯定</span> + Sentences</div>
</div>
<h3 id="examples-with-肯定">Examples with <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal;">肯定</span></h3>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">老板 肯定 了 我们 团队 的 工作。</span> <span class="trans">The boss approved our team's work.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">如果 想 让 别人 肯定 你，你 就 要 好好 做。</span> <span class="trans">If you want to make other people like you, you have to do good work.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">我 敢 肯定 这 就 是 他 的 声音。</span> <span class="trans">I'm sure that this is his voice.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="structure-with-确定">Structure with <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal;">确定</span></h3>
<p>You can also add a verb phrase a preposition phrase after <span class="hanzi">确定</span>, which makes it mean that that something is already set, often used in describing a progressing condition.</p>
<div class="jiegou"><div class="deux"><span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">确定</span> + Phrase / Sentence</div>
</div>
<h3 id="examples-with-确定">Examples with <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal;">确定</span></h3>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">我们 还 没有 确定 什么 时候 开始。</span> <span class="trans">We still haven't decided when to start.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">已经 确定了 三 个 人，还 差 一 个。</span> <span class="trans">Three people have already been decided, one more is needed.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">你 确定 他 是 我们 要 找 的 人 吗？</span> <span class="trans">Have you decided if he's the person we'll look for?</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="examples-of-right-or-wrong-sentences">Examples of right or wrong sentences</h3>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">我们 要 先 肯定 一 个 形式 才 能 开始 做。</span> <span class="vert">In this sentence, "肯定" needs to be followed by a noun or a noun phrase.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">我们 要 先 确定 一 个 形式 才 能 开始 做。</span> <span class="trans">We'll have to decide on a design before we can start working.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">老板 肯定 了 最近 我 工作 很 努力。</span> <span class="vert">In this sentence, "肯定" needs to be followed by a noun or noun phrase.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">老板 肯定 了 最近 我 的 努力 工作。</span> <span class="vert">By changing the word order, we get a noun phrase instead of a verb phrase.</span><span class="trans">The boss approved my recent hard work.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="肯定-一定-as-an-adverb">"<span class="hanzist">肯定</span>" "<span class="hanzist">一定</span>" as an Adverb</h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 0); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 22px;">肯定</span> and <span class="hanzi">一定</span> can both be adverbs, and the grammar structure for both are similar. <span class="hanzi">肯定</span> emphasized more of a subjective judgement or promise. <span class="hanzi">一定</span> sometimes carries an air of forcing something or issuing a command.</p>
<h3 id="structure-with-肯定-1">Structure with <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal;">肯定</span></h3>
<div class="jiegou"><div class="deux"><span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">肯定</span> + Adj. / Verb</div>
</div>
<h3 id="examples-with-肯定-1">Examples with <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal;">肯定</span></h3>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">他 肯定 还 没 起床，因为 他 的 手机 现在 还 没 开 机。</span> <span class="trans">He definitely hasn't gotten out of bed yet， because his phone is still off.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">这 次 我 肯定 不 骗 你，骗 你 是 小 狗，好 吧？</span> <span class="vert">The idiom "骗你是小狗" literally means "To deceive you is to be a small dog." It doesn't have a good English equivalent. </span><span class="trans">I'm not lying this time. Cross my heart.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="structure-with-一定">Structure with <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal;">一定</span></h3>
<div class="jiegou"><div class="deux"><span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">一定</span> + Adj. / Verb</div>
</div>
<h3 id="examples-with-一定">Examples with <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal;">一定</span></h3>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">明天 你们 一定 要 来。</span> <span class="trans">You guys are definitely going to come tomorrow.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">一定 要 小心。</span> <span class="trans">You've definitely got to be careful.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="right-or-wrong">Right or Wrong</h3>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">你们 肯定 要 去 听 我 的 演唱会。</span> <span class="trans">Since it's a command, "肯定" is not appropriate.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">你们 一定 要 去 听 我 的 演唱会。</span> <span class="trans">You guys have to go listen to my music recital.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="肯定-确定-一定-as-as-adjectives">"<span class="hanzist">肯定</span>" "<span class="hanzist">确定</span>" "<span class="hanzist">一定</span>" as as Adjectives</h2>
<p>All three of these can be placed before a noun as adjectives. But in this grammar structure, <span class="hanzi">肯定</span> and <span class="hanzi">确定</span> use their verb meanings, and <span class="hanzi">一定</span> as an adjective means "something particular</p>
<h3 id="structures">Structures</h3>
<div class="jiegou"><div class="deux"><span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">肯定</span> + （<span class="hanzist">的</span> +） Noun</div>
<p><br/></p>
</div>
<div class="jiegou"><div class="deux"><span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">确定</span> + （<span class="hanzist">的</span> +） Noun</div>
<p><br/></p>
</div>
<div class="jiegou"><div class="deux"><span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">一定</span> + （<span class="hanzist">的</span> +） Noun</div>
</div>
<h3 id="examples">Examples</h3>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">如果 你 问 我 是不是 知道 这 件 事情，我 的 回答 是 肯定 的。</span> <span class="trans">If you ask me if I know about this, my answer will be sure.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">请 给 我 一 个 确定 的 回答，不 要 总是 这么 模糊。</span> <span class="trans">Please give me a definite response. Don't always be so vague.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">我们 之间 要 保持 一定 距离。</span> <span class="trans">We need to keep a certain distance between us.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">这 件 事 和 他 有 一定 的 关系，不 能 都 怪 你。</span> <span class="trans">He has a certain connection with this, it can't completely surprise you.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="see-also">See Also</h2>
<h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>
<h3 id="books">Books</h3>
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">对外汉语教学语法释疑201例 (肯定 vs 一定 p.180)</span><br/></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">现代汉语八百词（增订本） (一定 p.603)</span><br/></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (p. 5)</span><br/></li>
</ul>
<h3 id="dictionaries">Dictionaries</h3>
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">现代汉语词典（第5版） (肯定p.776 一定 p.1594 确定p.1136)</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</body>
</html>