quèshí: 确实 - Indeed, Truly, For a Fact

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• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of the essential Chinese adverb 确实 (quèshí). This guide breaks down how to use 确实 to mean “indeed,” “truly,” or “for a fact,” helping you confirm statements and agree with others naturally. Discover the difference between 确实 (quèshí) and 真的 (zhēn de), see practical example sentences, and understand the cultural context behind this common HSK 4 word.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): quèshí
• Part of Speech: Adverb
• HSK Level: 4
• Concise Definition: It is used to confirm the truthfulness of a statement, meaning “indeed,” “really,” or “for a fact.”
• In a Nutshell: Think of 确实 (quèshí) as a stamp of factual approval. You use it when you want to agree with what someone just said, or when you are stating something you know to be objectively true. It's less about emotional intensity (like a surprised “Really?!”) and more about calm, factual confirmation. It’s the verbal equivalent of nodding and saying, “That's a fact.”

• 确 (què): This character combines the “stone” radical 石 (shí) with 角 (jiǎo). Imagine something as solid and definite as a rock. 确 means “certain,” “definite,” or “true.”
• 实 (shí): This character's original form depicted a house (宀) filled with valuable things (贯). It carries the meaning of “real,” “solid,” “actual,” or “full.”
• When you combine “definite/certain” (确) and “real/actual” (实), you get 确实 (quèshí), a word that powerfully conveys something is “definitely real” or “certainly a fact.”

In Chinese communication, confirming understanding and showing agreement is a way to build harmony. 确实 (quèshí) plays a vital role in this social dynamic. It's a tool for validating another person's observation or opinion without being overly emotional. Let's compare it to “really” in English. In American culture, “really” can be used in many ways:

• As an intensifier: “It's really cold.” (meaning “very cold”)
• As a question of surprise: “He won? Really?”
• As confirmation: “A: It's cold. B: It really is.”

确实 (quèshí) primarily functions like the third example. It's used to affirm a fact, not to express surprise or just to intensify an adjective. Using 确实 shows that you are not just agreeing politely, but you are confirming the statement based on your own knowledge or experience. It conveys a sense of thoughtfulness and objective agreement, which is highly valued.

确实 (quèshí) is extremely common in both spoken and written Chinese.

• In Conversation: It's the perfect response when someone makes an observation and you completely agree. It signals, “You're right, I've noticed that too.”
  • Friend A: “今天天气真好。” (Jīntiān tiānqì zhēn hǎo.) - “The weather is really nice today.”
  • You: “确实，很舒服。” (Quèshí, hěn shūfu.) - “Indeed, it's very comfortable.”
• In Business or Formal Settings: It's used to acknowledge a fact or a valid point during a discussion. It sounds professional and objective.
  • “您提出的这个问题确实很重要，我们需要认真考虑。” (Nín tíchū de zhège wèntí quèshí hěn zhòngyào, wǒmen xūyào rènzhēn kǎolǜ.) - “The issue you've raised is indeed very important; we need to consider it carefully.”
• On Social Media: Users often comment with “确实” or “确实是这样” (quèshí shì zhèyàng - “it is indeed like this”) to show agreement with a post or another comment.

Its connotation is generally neutral and objective. It simply states a fact.

• Example 1:
  • 这家饭店的菜确实很好吃。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā fàndiàn de cài quèshí hěn hǎo chī.
  • English: The food at this restaurant is indeed very delicious.
  • Analysis: The speaker is confirming a well-known or previously mentioned fact about the restaurant's quality. They aren't just saying it's “very” good; they are stating its deliciousness as a fact.
• Example 2:
  • A: 学中文有点难。 (Xué Zhōngwén yǒudiǎn nán.) - Learning Chinese is a bit difficult.
  • B: 确实，特别是汉字。 (Quèshí, tèbié shì Hànzì.) - Indeed, especially the characters.
  • Analysis: This is a classic use of 确实 in dialogue. Speaker B is confirming Speaker A's statement and adding their own specific reason.
• Example 3:
  • 他确实是解决这个问题的最佳人选。
  • Pinyin: Tā quèshí shì jiějué zhège wèntí de zuì jiā rénxuǎn.
  • English: He is truly the best person to solve this problem.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes that it is a factual and objective assessment that he is the best candidate, not just a casual opinion.
• Example 4:
  • 这几天的天气确实很奇怪，忽冷忽热的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jǐ tiān de tiānqì quèshí hěn qíguài, hū lěng hū rè de.
  • English: The weather these past few days has indeed been strange, suddenly cold then suddenly hot.
  • Analysis: Here, 确实 is used to introduce an observation that the speaker feels is factually true and likely observable by others.
• Example 5:
  • 我以前不相信，但现在我发现他确实变了很多。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǐqián bù xiāngxìn, dàn xiànzài wǒ fāxiàn tā quèshí biàn le hěn duō.
  • English: I didn't believe it before, but now I've discovered he has indeed changed a lot.
  • Analysis: 确实 emphasizes the reality of the change, contrasting it with the speaker's past disbelief.
• Example 6:
  • 没有你的帮助，我确实无法完成这个任务。
  • Pinyin: Méiyǒu nǐ de bāngzhù, wǒ quèshí wúfǎ wánchéng zhège rènwù.
  • English: Without your help, I truly would not have been able to complete this task.
  • Analysis: This is a sincere way to express gratitude by stating the inability to succeed as a fact.
• Example 7:
  • 住在市中心确实方便，但就是太吵了。
  • Pinyin: Zhù zài shì zhōngxīn quèshí fāngbiàn, dàn jiùshì tài chǎo le.
  • English: Living in the city center is indeed convenient, but it's just too noisy.
  • Analysis: 确实 is used to acknowledge the truth of the first clause (the positive aspect) before introducing a contrasting negative point.
• Example 8:
  • 这部电影的特效确实令人印象深刻。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng de tèxiào quèshí lìng rén yìnxiàng shēnkè.
  • English: The special effects in this movie are truly impressive.
  • Analysis: The speaker is confirming that the special effects are objectively and factually impressive.
• Example 9:
  • 他看起来很年轻，但他的年龄确实已经五十多岁了。
  • Pinyin: Tā kànqǐlái hěn niánqīng, dàn tā de niánlíng quèshí yǐjīng wǔshí duō suì le.
  • English: He looks very young, but he is in fact already over 50 years old.
  • Analysis: 确实 is used here to state a fact that might be surprising or contrary to appearances.
• Example 10:
  • 你说得对，我确实应该早点告诉他。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shuō de duì, wǒ quèshí yīnggāi zǎodiǎn gàosù tā.
  • English: You're right, I really should have told him earlier.
  • Analysis: The speaker is acknowledging the truth in someone else's advice and confirming their own past mistake.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 确实 (quèshí) and 真的 (zhēn de).

• 确实 (quèshí): The Factual Confirmer. Use this when you are agreeing with a stated fact or making an objective observation. It's about acknowledging a reality.
  • Correct: A: 这个城市很美。(This city is beautiful.) B: 确实。(Indeed.)
  • Less Natural: A: 我爱你。(I love you.) B: 确实。(This sounds odd, like you're confirming a scientific fact. 真的 (zhēn de) would be better to express shared emotion.)
• 真的 (zhēn de): The Emotional Emphasizer/Authenticator. Use this to express genuine feeling, to emphasize something is not fake, or to ask in surprise.
  • Correct: 我真的很高兴！ (Wǒ zhēn de hěn gāoxìng!) - I'm really happy!
  • Correct: 真的吗？ (Zhēn de ma?) - Really? For real?
  • Incorrect: `*`他真的是解决这个问题的最佳人选。 (While grammatically possible, 确实 sounds more professional and objective here. 真的 makes it sound more like a personal, emotional belief.)

Common Mistake: Using 确实 as a simple replacement for “very” (很 hěn).

• Incorrect: `*`今天天气确实热。 (Jīntiān tiānqì quèshí rè.)
• Why it's awkward: This sounds like you are solemnly confirming the fact that the weather is hot. It's not wrong, but it's unnatural for a simple observation.
• Better: 今天天气很热。(Jīntiān tiānqì hěn rè.) - Today is very hot. OR A: “今天真热！” B: “确实！” - A: “It's so hot today!” B: “Indeed!”

• 真的 (zhēn de) - “Really,” “truly.” A close synonym, but more emotional and can be used to ask questions of surprise (“Really?”).
• 的确 (díquè) - “Indeed.” A very close synonym to 确实, often used interchangeably, though 的确 can feel slightly more formal or literary.
• 当然 (dāngrán) - “Of course,” “certainly.” Used when the truth of a statement is obvious and shouldn't be questioned.
• 果然 (guǒrán) - “As expected,” “sure enough.” Used when a result confirms a previous prediction or expectation.
• 实际上 (shíjìshang) - “In fact,” “actually.” Used to introduce the real situation, often correcting a misconception.
• 肯定 (kěndìng) - “Definitely,” “for sure.” Expresses strong certainty or conviction, often about a future outcome or a belief.
• 事实 (shìshí) - (noun) “Fact.” 确实 is the adverb used to confirm a 事实.