确 (què) — (adverb) firmly; indeed; truly
Definition
确 (què) is an adverb used before or inside phrases like 确实 to mean 'indeed, truly' — it emphasizes that a statement is factual. Don't use it on its own as a verb; the related word 确定 is the verb/adjective for 'confirm' or 'certain'.
adverb
firmlyindeedtruly
Examples
- 。Tā què shí shì yí gè hǎo rén.He is indeed a good person.
- 。Wǒ què shí bù zhī dào.I truly don't know.
- 。Zhè jiàn shì què shí hěn zhòng yào.This matter is indeed very important.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 確; 确 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
隺
隺hè確què
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 確 combines 石, a rock, with 隺 for its sound; the idea is something rock-solid and certain. The simplified 确 is a shorthand.
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