Kilo Lingo

Mandarin · Chapter 15 · Lesson 9 · Common mistake

一直 or 一定?

One character apart, and not remotely related.

The rule

They look almost the same and mean nothing alike. 一直 (yi4-zhi2) is CONTINUOUSLY, all along, straight on. 一定 (yi2-ding4) is CERTAINLY, definitely. One is about time, the other about confidence.

Pick the right one

0/6

Pick the right one: 一直 or 一定.

  1. 我在这里等你。 (I have been waiting here all along)

    wǒ ___ zài zhè lǐ děng nǐ 。 (I have been waiting here all along)

  2. 他来。 (he will definitely come)

    tā ___ lái 。 (he will definitely come)

  3. 他很忙。 (he is always busy)

    tā ___ hěn máng 。 (he is always busy)

  4. 你要小心。 (you must definitely be careful)

    nǐ ___ yào xiǎo xīn 。 (you must definitely be careful)

  5. 走就到了。 (go straight on and you are there)

    ___ zǒu jiù dào le 。 (go straight on and you are there)

  6. 这是他的。 (this is definitely his)

    zhè ___ shì tā de 。 (this is definitely his)