さだ

さ

だ

Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

archaicusually written using kana alone

Archaic adverb expressing certainty or truth. Not used in modern everyday Japanese; encountered mainly in classical texts or poetic language.

古こ歌かに「さだまこと我わが思おもふ人ひとは」とある。
In an old poem, there is a line: 'Truly, the person I long for...'

Expressions

棺かんを蓋おおいて事こと定さだまるa person's worth is assessed only when their coffin is sealed

Kanji

定determine, fix, establish

Related words

確たしかにN3
確かに is the everyday modern word for 'certainly', while 定 (さだ) is an archaic adverb rarely used outside classical or poetic texts.
誠まことにN1
真に is a modern formal/literary word meaning 'truly', whereas 定 (さだ) carries the same sense but is confined to archaic or classical usage.

Word family· 9

定さだめ
rule; regulation; provision; decision · destiny; fate; karma
定さだめるN2
decide; determine; fix · establish; lay down; stipulate · bring peace; make peaceful; settle
定さだまるN1
become settled; be fixed; be decided
定さだか
definite; certain; sure
定さだまり
rule; custom; established practice

Show 4 more

定さだむ
decide; determine · establish; lay down; prescribe · bring peace; make peaceful
定さだめし
surely; no doubt; I'm sure
定さだめて
surely; certainly; no doubt
定さだめない
uncertain; transient; changeable

Etymology

The exact derivation is uncertain; it may be related to the classical adjective 定し (sadashi, 'certain, definite'), but the adverbial form さだ is archaic and its historical development is not well documented.