khẳng định

Affirm (Reporting Verb)

Level 6

Khẳng định means to affirm or to assert. It is used when a speaker or writer states something with absolute conviction, authority, or to dispel doubt.

How It Works

As an isolating language, Vietnamese does not conjugate khẳng định. It attaches directly to its complement:

  • With a clause: Chủ ngữ + khẳng định + (rằng / là) + Mệnh đề (Subject affirms that...). Note that rằng and là are frequently dropped in everyday speech.
  • With a noun phrase: Chủ ngữ + khẳng định + Danh từ (e.g., khẳng định chủ quyền - to assert sovereignty)
  • With a reflexive pronoun: khẳng định mình / khẳng định bản thân (to assert oneself / prove one's worth)
  • With an achievement marker: khẳng định được + Danh từ (to successfully assert/prove something)

Crucial Distinction: Do not confuse khẳng định with xác nhận. While dictionaries often translate both as 'confirm', xác nhận means to verify something based on evidence or procedure (like a password or booking). Khẳng định is a firm, authoritative declaration of truth, which can be based on either conviction or objective evidence. It is also distinct from khăng khăng, which carries an emotional nuance of stubborn insistence, whereas khẳng định is more neutral and authoritative.

Common Collocations: To add emphasis, it is often paired with adverbs, such as dám khẳng định (dare to assert / can confidently say) and khẳng định chắc chắn (to firmly assert).

Note: While primarily a verb, it also functions as an adjective (e.g., câu khẳng định - affirmative sentence) and a noun (sự khẳng định - affirmation). Its direct antonyms are phủ nhận (to deny) and phủ định (negative).

Examples (4)

  1. Bộ trưởng khẳng định rằng không có thay đổi trong chính sách.

    The minister affirmed that there is no change in the policy.

    Word by Word: Minister affirm that not have change in policy.

    A classic journalistic use of the verb followed by a complement clause introduced by 'rằng'.

  2. Nghi phạm một mực khẳng định mình vô tội.

    The suspect firmly asserted his innocence.

    Word by Word: Suspect one ink affirm self innocent.

    Shows 'khẳng định' used with a reflexive pronoun ('mình') to assert a personal truth against doubt.

  3. Cô ấy đã khẳng định được năng lực của bản thân trong công việc.

    She has proven her capability at work.

    Word by Word: She past affirm successfully capability of self in work.

    Here, it takes a noun phrase ('năng lực của bản thân') to mean asserting or proving one's worth.

  4. Chính phủ khẳng định lập trường về vấn đề này.

    The government asserted its stance on this issue.

    Word by Word: Government affirm stance about issue this.

    Demonstrates the verb taking a direct noun phrase to establish an official position.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'khẳng định' to confirm a booking, password, or administrative detail.

    Tôi muốn khẳng định đặt phòng của mình.
    Tôi muốn xác nhận đặt phòng của mình.

    Dictionaries often translate 'khẳng định' as 'confirm', but it lacks the verification component. To verify data, a receipt, or a booking, you must use 'xác nhận'. 'Khẳng định' is strictly for making a firm declaration or assertion.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

khẳng địnhLevel 6Affirm (Reporting Verb)

Learn This First

To use 'khẳng định' (to affirm/assert), a learner needs to understand how reporting verbs introduce subordinate clauses in Vietnamese, typically using the complementiser 'rằng'. Additionally, because this is a formal term used in news or official contexts, familiarity with the Sino-Vietnamese register is necessary.

Words in This Pattern