确 meaning and stroke order
Certain, sure; definite, exact; real, true
How to write 确, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 确
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- authenticated
- solid
- firm
- real
- true
- variant of 確|确[que4]
How 确 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Stone.
石 gives the meaning and 角 hints at the sound.
Radical: 石 (stone), shared by 114 characters on this site.
How to remember 确
确 is pictophonetic: 石 (shí, stone) on the left gives the meaning, and 角 (jiǎo) on the right hints at the sound. Think of something as solid as stone, so it is certain and sure.
确 rarely stands alone in modern Chinese. It appears in common words like 正确 (zhèngquè, correct), 确定 (quèdìng, certain), and 确实 (quèshí, indeed). Example: 你的答案是正确的。(Nǐ de dá'àn shì zhèngquè de.) Your answer is correct.
Common mistake: Learners often write the right side as 用 or forget the top stroke of 角, which has a short slanted top like 刀 inside. Also note that 确 is fourth tone què, even though the phonetic 角 is read jiǎo.
Common words with 确
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 正确 | zhèngquè | correct; sound; right; proper | HSK 2 |
| 准确 | zhǔnquè | accurate; exact; precise | HSK 2 |
| 确定 | quèdìng | definite; certain | HSK 3 |
| 确实 | quèshí | indeed; really | HSK 3 |
| 确保 | quèbǎo | to ensure; to guarantee | HSK 3 |
| 明确 | míngquè | clear-cut; definite; explicit; to clarify; to specify; to make definite | HSK 3 |
| 的确 | díquè | really; indeed | HSK 4 |
| 确认 | quèrèn | to confirm; to verify | HSK 4 |
| 确立 | quèlì | to establish; to institute | HSK 5 |
| 确信 | quèxìn | to be convinced; to be sure | HSK 7-9 |
| 确切 | quèqiè | definite; exact | HSK 7-9 |
| 精确 | jīngquè | accurate; precise | HSK 7-9 |
| 确凿 | quèzáo | definite; conclusive | HSK 7-9 |
| 确诊 | quèzhěn | to make a definite diagnosis; confirmed (case of a specific disease) | HSK 7-9 |
确 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 确
How many strokes are in 确?
确 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 确 mean?
确 (què) means certain, sure; definite, exact; real, true. A common word with it is 正确 (zhèngquè), meaning "correct; sound; right; proper".
How do you pronounce 确?
确 is pronounced què, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 确?
The radical of 确 is 石, which carries the idea of "stone". Dictionaries list 确 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 确?
The traditional form of 确 is 確. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 确 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 确 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 确 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 确实 and 的确?
Both mean indeed or really and are often interchangeable as adverbs. 确实 can also be an adjective meaning true or reliable, as in 消息确实 (the news is reliable), while 的确 is only used as an adverb.
How is 确定 different from 确认?
确定 means to decide or to be certain, as in 我不确定 (I am not sure). 确认 means to confirm or verify something, such as 确认订单 (confirm an order).