Meaning of 确保
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to ensure; to guarantee
How to use 确保
确保 is a fairly formal verb used for making sure a result happens, common in work, safety notices and news. It usually takes a full clause or a noun phrase as its object. Example: 请确保门已经锁好。(Qǐng quèbǎo mén yǐjīng suǒ hǎo.) Please make sure the door is locked.
确 (què) means certain or firm, as in 确定 (quèdìng), and 保 (bǎo) means to keep or protect, as in 保护 (bǎohù). To make something certain and keep it safe is to ensure it.
Common mistake: Learners often use 确保 where 保证 (bǎozhèng) fits better. 保证 is a personal promise to someone (我保证不迟到, I promise not to be late), while 确保 is about taking steps so something is certain to happen. Also note 确 is fourth tone què, not quē.
确保 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
确 què · certain · 12 strokes
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保 bǎo · to defend · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 确保.
| 正确 | zhèngquè | correct; sound; right; proper |
| 准确 | zhǔnquè | accurate; exact; precise |
| 确定 | quèdìng | definite; certain |
| 保护 | bǎohù | to protect; to defend |
| 保证 | bǎozhèng | guarantee; to guarantee |
| 保持 | bǎochí | to keep; to maintain |
| 确实 | quèshí | indeed; really |
| 保安 | bǎo'ān | to ensure public security; to ensure safety (for workers engaged in production) |
| 保险 | bǎoxiǎn | insurance; to insure |
| 保留 | bǎoliú | to keep; to retain |
| 保存 | bǎocún | to conserve; to preserve; to keep; to store; (computing) to save (a file etc) |
| 明确 | míngquè | clear-cut; definite; explicit; to clarify; to specify; to make definite |
Questions about 确保
What does 确保 mean?
确保 (quèbǎo) means "to ensure; to guarantee" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 确保?
确保 is made of 2 characters: 确 (12 strokes), 保 (9 strokes). That is 21 strokes in total.
Is 确保 an HSK word?
Yes. 确保 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 确保 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 确保 is written 確保.
What is the difference between 确保 and 确定?
确保 means to ensure that something will happen. 确定 (quèdìng) means to confirm or be sure about a fact, or to decide. 我确定他来了 means I am sure he came, while 确保他来 means make sure he comes.
Is 确保 too formal for everyday speech?
It is a bit formal but still common in speech, especially with instructions like 确保安全 (ensure safety). In casual talk people often say 一定要 (yídìng yào) or 保证 instead.