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肯定 (kěn dìng) — (verb) to confirm, to affirm, to be certain; (adjective) certain, positive, affirmative; (adverb) definitely, assuredly

Definition

肯定 works as a verb ('to confirm/affirm'), an adjective ('certain, positive'), and an adverb ('definitely'). As a verb it overlaps with 确认/确定 (more formal 'confirm'); as an adverb it's near-synonymous with 一定 ('definitely'), but 肯定 is more emphatic.

verb
to confirmto affirmto be certain
adjective
certainpositiveaffirmative
adverb
definitelyassuredly

Examples

  • 肯定。
    Wǒ bù néng kěn dìng zhè ge dá àn.
    I can't confirm this answer.
  • 肯定。
    Zhè shì kěn dìng de huí dá.
    This is a positive reply.
  • 肯定。
    Tā kěn dìng lái.
    He will definitely come.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

肯kěnaffirm/willing
定dìngsettle/certain

肯 (affirm) and 定 (settle) together give 'to affirm' or 'certain'.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

肯 is described as showing 冎 (bone) and 肉 (meat), meaning meat attached to the bone.

Open 肯 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
正
正zhèng定dìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

定 is built from 宀 and 正, with 正 supplying the sound.

Open 定 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 41000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsAttitudes & Opinions2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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