Comparing "kending" "queding" and “yiding"

If you look up 肯定, 确定 and 一定 in the dictionary, they all have pretty close meanings, like "certain" or "surely". However, using them correctly in a sentence is a bit more complicated. Luckily, this article clearly shows us how to get them right!

Overview 概述

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

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.

From a significance or meaning point of view:

肯定 often has a subjective, energetic feel to it。 It has 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" as a Verb

肯定 and 确定 can both be verbs, but their use and meanings are different. 一定 cannot be used 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 "Ï am sure". When used this way it is usually a clause at the end of a sentence.

Subject + (敢)肯定 + sentences

Examples with 肯定

• 老板 肯定 了 我们 团队 的 工作。The boss approved our team's work.
• 如果 想 让 别人 肯定 你，你 就 要 好好 做。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。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 + Phrases / short sentences

Examples with 确定

• 我们 还 没有 确定 什么 时候 开始。We still haven't decided when to start.
• 已经 确定了 三 个 人，还 差 一 个。Three people have already been decided, one more is needed.
• 你 确定 他 是 我们 要 找 的 人 吗？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。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. 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 judgement or promise. 一定 sometimes carries an air of forcing something or issuing a command.

Structure with 肯定

肯定 + Adjective / Verb

Examples with 肯定

• 他 肯定 还 没 起床，手机 现在 还 没 开 机。He definitely hasn't gotten out of bed yet. He's not answering his phone either.
• 这 次 我 肯定 不 骗 你，骗 你 是 小 狗，好 吧？

Structure with 一定

一定 + Adjective / Verb

Examples with 一定

• 明天 你们 一定 要 来。
• 一定 要 小心。

Right or Wrong

• 你们 肯定 要 去 听 我 的 演唱会。
• 你们 一定 要 去 听 我 的 演唱会。

"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 "somethng 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。
• 请 给 我 一 个 确定 的 回答，不 要 总是 这么 模糊。
• 我们 之间 要 保持 一定 距离。
• 这 件 事 和 他 有 一定 的 关系，不 能 都 怪 你。

Sources and further reading

Books

• 对外汉语教学语法释疑201例 (肯定 vs 一定 p.180) →buy

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (一定 p.603) →buy

Dictionaries

• 现代汉语词典（第5版） (肯定p.776 一定 p.1594 确定p.1136) →buy