Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“Certainly,” “surely,” “indeed,” or “to be sure.”
🎯 Primary Function
To acknowledge the validity of a statement, often to concede a point before introducing a counter-argument, or to express strong certainty.
📋 Grammar Structure
確かに + Verb (Plain/Polite form) + (e.g., 確かに見た / 確かに提出した)
確かに + I-adjective (Plain/Polite form) + Noun/Copula (e.g., 確かに寒い)
確かに + Na-adjective (Plain/Polite form) + Noun/Copula (e.g., 確かに便利だ)
確かに + Negative form of Verb/Adjective (e.g., 確かに知らない / 確かに高くない)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in business or formal discussions to show acknowledgment and respect for an opponent’s point before stating one’s own view.
Informal Situations
Very common in casual conversation to express agreement (“You’re right,” “Indeed”).
Written Language
Used in essays, reviews, and opinion pieces to create balanced arguments by conceding introductory points.
Spoken Language
Highly frequent, serving as a common discourse marker for agreement or concession.
💡 Common Applications
Concession and Contrast
Used to acknowledge or concede a point made by another person or a known fact, often followed by a contrasting idea introduced by conjunctions like が, けど, けれども, or しかし. This is its most common and crucial use.
Example: このパソコンは確かに高いですが、性能は抜群です。(This PC is certainly expensive, but its performance is outstanding.)
Strong Affirmation/Conviction
Used to emphasize that the speaker is absolutely sure or certain about a fact or action, often translating to “surely” or “definitely.”
Example: 私が鍵を閉めたのは確かです。(It is certain that I locked the door.)
Simple Agreement/Acknowledgement
Used alone or at the beginning of a sentence to simply acknowledge and agree with a statement or observation, often indicating realization.
Example: A: もう少し静かにした方がいいよ。 B: 確かに。(A: We should be a little quieter. B: Indeed/You’re right.)
Frequency
High in spoken and written language, especially in discussions and arguments.
Difficulty
N3-N2 Intermediate/Advanced
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Example Sentences
Example #1
値段は確かに高いが、品質は素晴らしい。
Furigana: ねだんはたしかにたかいが、ひんしつはすばらしい。
Romaji: Nedan wa tashika ni takai ga, hinshitsu wa subarashii.
English: The price is certainly high, but the quality is excellent.
Example #2
確かに時間がかかった、しかし最後には成功した。
Furigana: たしかにじかんがかかった、しかしさいごにはせいこうした。
Romaji: Tashika ni jikan ga kakatta, shikashi saigo ni wa seikō shita.
English: Indeed, it took a long time, but we succeeded in the end.
Example #3
確かに、あなたの言うことはもっともだ。
Furigana: たしかに、あなたのいうことはもっともだ。
Romaji: Tashika ni, anata no iu koto wa mottomo da.
English: Certainly, what you are saying is reasonable.
Example #4
報告書は昨日確かに提出しました。
Furigana: ほうこくしょはきのうたしかにていしゅつしました。
Romaji: Hōkokusho wa kinō tashika ni teishutsu shimashita.
English: I certainly handed in the report yesterday.
Example #5
あなたの気持ちは確かにわかるけれども、そのやり方は認められない。
Furigana: あなたのきもちはたしかにわかるけれども、そのやりかたはみとめられない。
Romaji: Anata no kimochi wa tashika ni wakaru keredo mo, sono yarikata wa mitomerarenai.
English: Although I certainly understand your feelings, I cannot approve of the method.
Example #6
あの味は確かにユニークだが、あまり好きではない。
Furigana: あのあじはたしかにユニークだが、あまりすきではない。
Romaji: Ano aji wa tashika ni yunīku da ga, amari suki de wa nai.
English: That flavor is certainly unique, but I don’t really like it.
Example #7
出かける前に、ドアに鍵は確かにかけましたか。
Furigana: でかけるまえに、ドアにかぎはたしかにかけましたか。
Romaji: Dekakeru mae ni, doa ni kagi wa tashika ni kakemashita ka.
English: Did you certainly lock the door before leaving?
Example #8
今日は昨日より確かに寒いですね。
Furigana: きょうはきのうよりたしかにさむいですね。
Romaji: Kyō wa kinō yori tashika ni samui desu ne.
English: It certainly feels colder than yesterday, doesn’t it?
Example #9
確かにここに書類にシミがあります。
Furigana: たしかにここにしょるいにシミがあります。
Romaji: Tashika ni koko ni shorui ni shimi ga arimasu.
English: There is certainly a stain here on the document.
Example #10
彼の話は確かに怪しいし、矛盾している。
Furigana: かれのはなしはたしかにあやしいし、むじゅんしている。
Romaji: Kare no hanashi wa tashika ni ayashii shi, mujun shite iru.
English: His story is certainly suspicious and inconsistent.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
The ‘Concession + Contrast’ Pattern
The most common pattern is “確かに A, [contrastive conjunction] B.” Acknowledging A makes the argument for B more persuasive and balanced. Common conjunctions are が, けど, けれども, and しかし.
Example: 確かに、努力は必要だが、それだけでは成功できない。(Certainly, effort is necessary, but that alone cannot guarantee success.)
Related Forms: 確かめる and 確かな
Remember the difference between the adverb 確かに (tashika ni) and the verb 確かめる (tashikameru – to confirm/verify) and the na-adjective 確か (tashika – certain). They all share the same kanji but have different functions.
Example: 彼の主張の真偽を確かめる必要がある。(It is necessary to confirm the truth of his claim.)
Affirmation of Memory/Fact
When used without a following contrast, 確かに serves to guarantee or affirm the truth of the statement, often related to the speaker’s memory, action, or perception.
Example: あの時、確かにそう言いました。(At that time, I certainly said so.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ きっと、彼は優秀なエンジニアです。
✅ 確かに、彼は優秀なエンジニアです。(Certainly, he is an excellent engineer.)
While both mean ‘surely,’ きっと (kitto) implies conjecture or expectation (I believe he surely is), whereas 確かに (tashika ni) confirms a known, verifiable fact. Use 確かに for objective certainty.
❌ 確か、この情報は正しい。
✅ この情報は事実ですか、それとも確認が必要ですか？(Is this information a fact, or does it need confirmation?)
確か (tashika) is a noun/na-adjective meaning ‘certainty’ or ‘sure.’ You cannot use it as a standalone adverb. 確かに (tashika ni) is the adverbial form.
❌ 本当に楽しかったが、もう帰らなければならない。
✅ 本当に楽しかったが、もう帰らなければならない。(It was really fun, but I have to go home now.)
確かに introduces a concession before a contrast. 本当に simply intensifies the preceding adjective or verb. While they can overlap, 確かに is preferred when a ‘but’ (contrast) follows.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to Polite. It is suitable for both formal and casual settings. Using it to concede a point can be seen as polite, showing that the speaker has fully considered the other person’s view.
Social Situations: Crucial in debate, negotiation, and daily conversation where acknowledging different perspectives is necessary for smooth communication.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese. No significant regional variations in usage or meaning, though regional dialects may have local equivalents for simple agreement.
🔍 Subtle Differences
確かに (tashika ni) vs. 本当に (hontō ni)
確かに is primarily used for acknowledging a verifiable fact or conceding a point before contrast. 本当に is used for emotional emphasis or to express that something is genuinely true.
When to use: Use 確かに when you want to agree but also introduce a “but.” Use 本当に when you want to emphasize the degree or sincerity of something.
確かに (tashika ni) vs. まさしく (masashiku)
確かに means ‘certainly’ or ‘indeed.’ まさしく is stronger, meaning ‘exactly,’ ‘undeniably,’ or ‘without a doubt,’ often used to confirm identity or precise quality.
When to use: Use 確かに for general factual certainty. Use まさしく when something fits a description perfectly.
確かに (tashika ni) vs. きっと (kitto)
確かに conveys objective certainty (based on facts or memory). きっと conveys the speaker’s strong belief or prediction (subjective certainty).
When to use: Use 確かに when you know for a fact. Use きっと when you strongly predict something will happen.
📝 Conjugation Notes
「確かに」 is an adverb derived from the na-adjective 「確か (tashika)」, meaning ‘certain’ or ‘sure.’ It is always used in the adverbial form ending in に (ni) when modifying a verb, adjective, or whole sentence. The base form 確か (tashika) can be used as a noun or a na-adjective (e.g., 確かな情報 – sure/certain information).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced with even stress across the four morae (ta-shi-ka-ni). In quick conversation, especially when used for simple agreement, the pace might be rapid: “Tashika ni!”
🧠 Memory Tips
Relate 確か (tashika) to ‘check’ or ‘confirm.’ Think of the structure “Ta-shi-ka-ni” as “To be SURELY/CERTAINLY true.” The ‘ni’ makes the adjective a modifier (adverb).
Other Grammar
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