確(たし)かに

確(たし)かに is the adverbial form of 確(たし)か (certain). It has two main uses.

USAGE 1 - Affirmation:
When used to affirm something with certainty. Often appears at the beginning of a sentence to acknowledge a valid point.

• 確(たし)かに、そのとおりです: Indeed, that's right
• 確(たし)かに難(むずか)しい: It's certainly difficult

USAGE 2 - Concession:
Acknowledges a point before introducing a contrasting idea (like "certainly...but...").

• 確(たし)かに高(たか)いが、品質(ひんしつ)がいい: It's certainly expensive, but the quality is good

Similar words

• 本当(ほんとう)に: really (emphasizes truth)
• もちろん: of course (stronger certainty)

Watch out

Without に, sentence-initial 確(たし)か means the opposite of certainty: "if I remember correctly" (確(たし)か三時(さんじ)からだった, "I think it started at three"). 確(たし)かに always affirms; 確(たし)か hedges a memory.