定さだか

さ

だ

か

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Almost always used in negative or interrogative contexts (e.g., 定かでない, 定かではない) to express uncertainty or lack of clarity. Rarely used affirmatively in modern Japanese.

彼かれの居い場ば所しょは定さだかではない。
His whereabouts are not certain.
その噂うわさが本ほん当とうかどうかは定さだかでない。
It is not definite whether that rumor is true.

See all 9 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉は定さだかではないit is not clear/certain whether ~
事じ故この原げん因いんは定さだかではない。
The cause of the accident is not clear.
記き憶おくが定さだかでないone's memory is not clear/reliable
当とう時じのことは記き憶おくが定さだかでない。
My memory of that time is not clear.
生せい死しが定さだかでないit is unknown whether someone is alive or dead
遭そう難なん者しゃの生せい死しはまだ定さだかでない。
It is still not known whether the missing person is alive or dead.
〈数かず〉かは定さだかでないthe exact number/amount is not certain
参さん加か者しゃが何なん人にんだったかは定さだかでない。
It is not clear exactly how many people took part.

Kanji

定determine, fix, establish

Related words

確たしかN4
確か is common and used both affirmatively and negatively, while 定か is almost always used with negative forms like 定かでない.
明あきらかN3
明らか means 'clear/obvious' and is typically used affirmatively, whereas 定か stresses certainty and is almost always used in negative contexts.

Opposites

曖あい昧まいN3
曖昧 describes something vague or ambiguous, the opposite state to what 定か (definite, certain) describes when negated.

Written forms

定さだかUsage89%
Standard kanji spelling; commonly used in negative expressions.
さだかUsage11%
Kana spelling is sometimes used for clarity or emphasis, especially in informal writing.

Etymology

Derived from classical Japanese adjective 定かなり (sadakanari), meaning 'certain' or 'definite'. The modern form is almost exclusively used in negative constructions.