<p>Let's first focus on their usages as adverbs. Adjective meanings are different.</p>

<p>A. As adverbs, 的确 and 确实 are the same. They mean 'indeed': without any question</p>

<ul>
<li><p>used in response to a statement that is regarded as doubtful or surprising</p></li>
<li><p>used when making a statement that adds to or strengthens a previous statement</p></li>
</ul>

<p>For example, "A: 你会给朋友推荐这本书吗？B: 没错，我(的确／确实／真的)会给朋友推荐这本书。" （A: Would you recommend this book to your friends? B: Yes, I will indeed recommend this book to my friends.)</p>

<p>B. As an adverb, 实在 means really/very: — used to refer to what is true or intensive (the latter is not in 的确／确实):</p>

<ul>
<li><p>without question or doubt</p></li>
<li><p>to a great degree</p></li>
</ul>

<p>For example, you can say "实在漂亮". It just means really/very beautiful.</p>

<p>In summary, to say 'in fact or indeed', you can use any of 的确, 确实 and 实在. But to mean 'really / very', you can only use 实在.</p>

<p>For example, 
After watching the movie, I think it is indeed a good one. 看完电影以后，我觉这(的确／确实／实在)是部不错的电影。</p>

<p>After I won a free movie ticket, I was really really happy. 赢得了免费的电影票，我实在是太高兴了. (but not 的确／确实)</p>

<p>Hope it helps a bit. As adjectives, they are also different but less subtle.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-03T14:58:13.940Z
thank you! this helped A LOT! it's much easier than I thought! really thank you! I have struggled with these 3 words since forever
loredana castagna
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-03T21:02:17.667Z
You are welcome. I am glad it helped. I feel sorry that very few dictionaries gave good explanations about these words.
Danke Xie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-03T08:48:37.357Z
2015-06-03T08:58:09.950Z
2015-06-03T08:58:09.950Z
Danke Xie
<p>loredana castagna 你很实在，“What's the difference between 的确，确实 and 实在” 这个 的确（确实）是个比较难解释的问题。 而我也是个实在人，的确（确实）在认真回答你的问题。</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-03T13:47:42.477Z
additional information：
＂实用汉语近义虚词词典＂相关条目［不同］２。＂实在＂可以用在当面表示歉意或感谢的句子里，加强语气；＂的确、确实＂很少这样用：１。是我搞错了，把你的东西给了他，实在对不起！（的确✔ 确实✔ ）２。你辛苦了，实在太谢谢你了！（的确✔ 确实✔ ）４。＂确实、实在＂都可以作定语、谓语，但意思不同：＂确实＂表示真实可靠，多用于事物，不能受＂不、很、非常＂等副词修饰；＂实在＂表示真实、不虚假，多用于人，可以受＂不、很、非常＂等副词修饰：１。没有确实的证据不要乱说。（的确✕实在✕）２。你说的这个消息确实吗？（的确✕实在✕）３。李力是个很实在的小伙子。（的确✕确实✕）４。李力的爸爸希望他学个实在的技术。（的确✕确实✕）５。张先生太客气，不实在。（的确✕确实✕）
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-03T07:59:28.980Z
2015-06-03T07:59:28.980Z
js888
<p>I never understand the difference between these three words, and nobody has never been able to explain it to me. I searched about it on many books, and websites, but I just didn't get it. Can you please try to explain it to me? Thank you.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-03T06:02:07.787Z
... and I already asked this before that one: http://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/9920/3561
Ming
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-03T06:57:48.063Z
@songyuanyao @ Ming Why didn't either of you vote for dupe?
NS.X.
<meaning><difference>
What's the difference between 确实, 的确, and 实在?
# What's the difference between 确实, 的确, and 实在?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-06-03)

I never understand the difference between these three words, and nobody has never been able to explain it to me. I searched about it on many books, and websites, but I just didn't get it. Can you please try to explain it to me? Thank you.

**Tags:** meaning, difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: ... and I already asked this before that one: http://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/9920/3561  
> **username_2**: @songyuanyao @ username_1 Why didn't either of you vote for dupe?  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-06-03. Score: 2

Let's first focus on their usages as adverbs. Adjective meanings are different.

A. As adverbs, 的确 and 确实 are the same. They mean 'indeed': without any question

* used in response to a statement that is regarded as doubtful or surprising
* used when making a statement that adds to or strengthens a previous statement

For example, "A: 你会给朋友推荐这本书吗？B: 没错，我(的确／确实／真的)会给朋友推荐这本书。" （A: Would you recommend this book to your friends? B: Yes, I will indeed recommend this book to my friends.)

B. As an adverb, 实在 means really/very: — used to refer to what is true or intensive (the latter is not in 的确／确实):

* without question or doubt
* to a great degree

For example, you can say "实在漂亮". It just means really/very beautiful.

In summary, to say 'in fact or indeed', you can use any of 的确, 确实 and 实在. But to mean 'really / very', you can only use 实在.

For example,
After watching the movie, I think it is indeed a good one. 看完电影以后，我觉这(的确／确实／实在)是部不错的电影。

After I won a free movie ticket, I was really really happy. 赢得了免费的电影票，我实在是太高兴了. (but not 的确／确实)

Hope it helps a bit. As adjectives, they are also different but less subtle.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: thank you! this helped A LOT! it's much easier than I thought! really thank you! I have struggled with these 3 words since forever  
> **username_3**: You are welcome. I am glad it helped. I feel sorry that very few dictionaries gave good explanations about these words.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-06-03. Score: 0

username_0 你很实在，“What's the difference between 的确，确实 and 实在” 这个 的确（确实）是个比较难解释的问题。 而我也是个实在人，的确（确实）在认真回答你的问题。

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: additional information： ＂实用汉语近义虚词词典＂相关条目［不同］２。＂实在＂可以用在当面表示歉意或感谢的句子里，加强语气；＂的确、确实＂很少这样用：１。是我搞错了，把你的东西给了他，实在对不起！（的确✔ 确实✔ ）２。你辛苦了，实在太谢谢你了！（的确✔ 确实✔ ）４。＂确实、实在＂都可以作定语、谓语，但意思不同：＂确实＂表示真实可靠，多用于事物，不能受＂不、很、非常＂等副词修饰；＂实在＂表示真实、不虚假，多用于人，可以受＂不、很、非常＂等副词修饰：１。没有确实的证据不要乱说。（的确✕实在✕）２。你说的这个消息确实吗？（的确✕实在✕）３。李力是个很实在的小伙子。（的确✕确实✕）４。李力的爸爸希望他学个实在的技术。（的确✕确实✕）５。张先生太客气，不实在。（的确✕确实✕）  

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