Comparing "kending" "queding" and “yiding"

If you look up 肯定 (kěndìng), 确定 (quèdìng) and 一定 (yīdìng) in the dictionary, they all have similar meanings, like "certain" or "surely." However, using them correctly in a sentence is a bit more complicated.

Overview 概述

So how are these three words words different? We can answer this question from two points of view:

1. From a "parts of speech" point of view:

• 肯定 can be a verb, an adjective and an adverb.

• 确定 can be a verb or an adjective.

• 一定 can be an adjective or an adverb.

2. From a "significance or meaning" point of view:

• 肯定 often has a subjective, energetic feel to it。 It carries meanings like 认可 (approval), 同意 (agreement), and 保证 (guarantee).

• 确定 carries a feeling of objectively describing a situation. It carries the meaning of 决定 (to decide, to resolve).

• 一定 as an adjective has really broad uses, so you need to pay attention to the specific times it's used in. As an adverb, it is often used to give a reinforcing tone.

• 肯定 and 确定 can both be verbs, but their use and meanings are different. 一定 cannot be used as a verb.

"肯定" and "确定" as a Verb

Structure with 肯定

肯定 can express that something is satisfactory (对…满意), 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).

肯定 + Noun / Noun Phrase

I can also be used to express "I am sure." When used this way it is usually a clause at the end of a sentence.

Subj. + (敢)肯定 + Sentences

Examples with 肯定

• 老板 肯定 了 我们 团队 的 工作。Lǎobǎn kěndìng le wǒmen tuánduì de gōngzuò.The boss approved our team's work.
• 如果 想 让 别人 肯定 你，你 就 要 好好 做。Rúguǒ xiǎng ràng biérén kěndìng nǐ, nǐ jiù yào hǎohǎo zuò.If you want to make other people like you, you have to do good work.
• 我 敢 肯定 这 就 是 他 的 声音。Wǒ gǎn kěndìng zhè jiùshì tā de shēngyīn.I'm sure that this is his voice.

Structure with 确定

You can also add a verb phrase a preposition phrase after 确定, which makes it mean that that something is already set, often used in describing a progressing condition.

确定 + Phrase / Sentence

Examples with 确定

• 我们 还 没有 确定 什么 时候 开始。Wǒmen hái méiyǒu quèdìng shénme shíhòu kāishǐ.We still haven't decided when to start.
• 已经 确定了 三 个 人，还 差 一 个。Yǐjīng quèdìng le sān gèrén, hái chà yīgè.Three people have already been decided, one more is needed.
• 你 确定 他 是 我们 要 找 的 人 吗？Nǐ quèdìng tā shì wǒmen yào zhǎo de rén ma?Have you decided if he's the person we'll look for?

Examples of right or wrong sentences

• 我们 要 先 肯定 一 个 形式 才 能 开始 做。In this sentence, "肯定" needs to be followed by a noun or a noun phrase.
• 我们 要 先 确定 一 个 形式 才 能 开始 做。Wǒmen yào xiān quèdìng yīgè xíngshì cáinéng kāishǐ zuò.We'll have to decide on a design before we can start working.
• 老板 肯定 了 最近 我 工作 很 努力。In this sentence, "肯定" needs to be followed by a noun or noun phrase.
• 老板 肯定 了 最近 我 的 努力 工作。By changing the word order, we get a noun phrase instead of a verb phrase.Lǎobǎn kěndìng le zuìjìn wǒ de nǔlì gōngzuò.The boss approved my recent hard work.

"肯定" "一定" as an Adverb

肯定 and 一定 can both be adverbs, and the grammar structure for both are similar. 肯定 emphasized more of a subjective judgment or promise. 一定 sometimes carries an air of forcing something or issuing a command.

Structure with 肯定

肯定 + Adj. / Verb

Examples with 肯定

• 他 肯定 还 没 起床，因为 他 的 手机 现在 还 没 开 机。Tā kěndìng hái méi qǐchuáng, yīnwèi tā de shǒujī xiànzài hái méi kāijī.He definitely hasn't gotten out of bed yet， because his phone is still off.
• 这 次 我 肯定 不 骗 你，骗 你 是 小 狗，好 吧？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.Zhè cì wǒ kěndìng bù piàn nǐ, piàn nǐ shì xiǎo gǒu, hǎo ba?I'm not lying this time. Cross my heart.

Structure with 一定

一定 + Adj. / Verb

Examples with 一定

• 明天 你们 一定 要 来。Míngtiān nǐmen yīdìng yào lái.You guys are definitely going to come tomorrow.
• 一定 要 小心。Yīdìng yào xiǎoxīn.You've definitely got to be careful.

Right or Wrong

• 你们 肯定 要 去 听 我 的 演唱会。Since it's a command, "肯定" is not appropriate.
• 你们 一定 要 去 听 我 的 演唱会。Nǐmen yīdìng yào qù tīng wǒ de yǎnchàng huì.You guys have to go listen to my music recital.

"肯定" "确定" "一定" as as Adjectives

All three of these can be placed before a noun as adjectives. But in this grammar structure, 肯定 and 确定 use their verb meanings, and 一定 as an adjective means "something particular

Structures

肯定 + （的 +） Noun

确定 + （的 +） Noun

一定 + （的 +） Noun

Examples

• 如果 你 问 我 是不是 知道 这 件 事情，我 的 回答 是 肯定 的。Rúguǒ nǐ wèn wǒ shì bù shì zhīdào zhè jiàn shìqíng, wǒ de huídá shì kěndìng de.If you ask me if I know about this, my answer will be sure.
• 请 给 我 一 个 确定 的 回答，不 要 总是 这么 模糊。Qǐng gěi wǒ yīgè quèdìng de huídá, bùyào zǒng shì zhème móhú.Please give me a definite response. Don't always be so vague.
• 我们 之间 要 保持 一定 距离。Wǒmen zhī jiān yào bǎochí yīdìng jùlí.We need to keep a certain distance between us.
• 这 件 事 和 他 有 一定 的 关系，不 能 都 怪 你。Zhè jiàn shì hé tā yǒu yīdìng de guānxì, bù néng dōu guài nǐ.He has a certain connection with this, it can't completely surprise you.

Sources and further reading

Books

• HSK Standard Course 4上 (pp. 55) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

• 对外汉语教学语法释疑201例 (pp. 180) [ →buy]

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 603) [ →buy]

• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 5) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

Dictionaries

• 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 776, 1594, 1136) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

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