確(たし)か

たしか
adverb
certainly, if I remember correctly
See also: 確(たし)かに (adverbial form)
1. certainly, surely
Expressing confidence that something is true or will happen.
確(たし)かに聞(き)きました。
I certainly heard it.
With に for emphasis
それは確(たし)かにそうです。
That is certainly true.
確(たし)かに難(むずか)しいですが、できると思(おも)います。
It's certainly difficult, but I think I can do it.
確(たし)かに彼(かれ)は約束(やくそく)しました。間違(まちが)いありません。
He certainly made a promise. There's no mistake about it.
先生(せんせい)の説明(せつめい)は確(たし)かに分(わ)かりやすかったですが、もう一度(いちど)聞(き)きたいです。
The teacher's explanation was certainly easy to understand, but I'd like to hear it once more.
2. if I remember correctly
Used when recalling something but not being 100% certain. Often at the beginning of a sentence.
確(たし)か明日(あした)は日曜日(にちようび)です。
If I remember correctly, tomorrow is Sunday.
確(たし)か駅(えき)の近(ちか)くだった。
I think it was near the station.
確(たし)か彼女(かのじょ)は大阪(おおさか)から来(き)ました。
I believe she came from Osaka.
確(たし)かあの映画(えいが)は去年(きょねん)の夏(なつ)に見(み)たと思(おも)います。
If I remember correctly, I think I watched that movie last summer.
確(たし)か彼(かれ)は大学(だいがく)で日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)していたはずですが、よく覚(おぼ)えていません。
If I remember correctly, he was studying Japanese at university, but I don't remember well.

確(たし)か has two distinct usages depending on context.

USAGE 1 - CERTAINTY (確(たし)かに):

With に, expresses strong certainty or acknowledgment.

USAGE 2 - UNCERTAIN RECALL (確(たし)か...):

Without に at sentence start, expresses vague memory.

ADJECTIVAL USE:

確(たし)かな + noun = certain, reliable

Related Words

Antonym: 不確(ふたし)か (uncertain)
core
Added 2026.1.7 21:48 · Revised 2026.5.13 22:24
00500/00894_tashika