certain
- pron.(不提及人或事物的名称时用)某些
- adj.确定;(不提及细节时用)某事，某人，某种;肯定;确信;确实;无疑;某某，某位，一位叫…的;轻微的
最高级： most certain 比较级： more certain
cert 确实,确信 + -ain 表示人
certainadj.
确实；确定；肯定
that you can rely on to happen or to be true
It is certain that they will agree/They are certain to agree.
他们肯定会同意。
She looks certain to win an Oscar.
看来奥斯卡金像奖非她莫属。
The climbers face certain death if the rescue today is unsuccessful.
救援行动如果今天不能成功，登山队员必死无疑。
If you want to be certain of getting a ticket, book now.
要想有把握买到票，现在就得预订。
确信；确定；无疑
firmly believing sth; having no doubts
She wasn't certain (that) he had seen her.
她不敢肯定他见过她。
Are you absolutely certain about this?
你对这事绝对确信无疑吗？
I'm not certain who was there.
我无法确定谁当时在场。
To my certain knowledge he was somewhere else at the time (= I am sure about it) .
我敢肯定他当时在别处。
（不提及细节时用）某事，某人，某种
used to mention a particular thing, person or group without giving any more details about it or them
For certain personal reasons I shall not be able to attend.
由于某种个人原因，我将不能出席。
Certain people might disagree with this.
某些人对这事可能不会赞同。
They refused to release their hostages unless certain conditions were met.
除非某些条件得到满足，否则他们不会释放人质。
（与人名连用，表示说话者不识其人）某某，某位，一位叫…的
used with a person's name to show that the speaker does not know the person
It was a certain Dr Davis who performed the operation.
是一位叫戴维斯的医生做的手术。
轻微的；微小的；显而易见却难以描述的
slight; noticeable, but difficult to describe
That's true, to a certain extent .
在一定程度上的确如此。
I felt there was a certain coldness in her manner.
我觉得她的态度有点冷淡。
without doubt
我说不准我们什么时候能到。
I can't say for certain when we'll arrive.
to find out whether sth is definitely true
好像8点有一班公共汽车，不过你最好打电话弄清楚。
I think there's a bus at 8 but you'd better call to make certain.
to do sth in order to be sure that sth else will happen
你得快点出发，好确保准时到达那里。
You'll have to leave soon to make certain of getting there on time.
if you talk about a person being of a certain age , you mean that they are no longer young but not yet old
这个节目中年观众感兴趣。
The show appeals to an audience of a certain age.
pron.
These words all describe sb who knows without doubt that sth is true or will happen.以上各词均指确信、肯定、有把握。
[not before noun] without any doubt that you are right, that sth is true, that you will get sth or that sth will happen 指确信、肯定、有把握、必定：
‘Is that John over there?’ ‘I'm not sure.’
“那边那个人是约翰吗？”“我说不准。”
Are you sure about that?
这事你肯定吗？
England must win this game to be sure of qualifying.
英格兰队必须拿下这场比赛才能确保获得资格。
completely sure that sth will happen in the way that you want or expect 指肯定、确信、有把握：
I'm quite confident that you'll get the job.
我肯定你能得到那份工作。
The team feels confident of winning.
这个队觉得有把握取胜。
[not before noun] completely sure that sth is true or right, especially because the evidence seems to prove it or sb else has persuaded you to believe it 指坚信、深信、确信，尤指有证据证明或经说服：
I'm convinced that she's innocent.
我坚信她是清白无辜的。
[not usually before noun] sure that you are right or that sth is true 指确信、肯定、无疑：
Are you absolutely certain about this?
你对这事绝对确信无疑吗？
Like sure , certain is often used in negative statements and questions. It is slightly more formal than sure ; sure is more frequent, especially in spoken English. |
[not before noun] ( rather informal ) completely sure that sth is true 指有绝对把握、确信、肯定：
She was positive that he'd been there.
她确信他曾在场。
‘Are you sure?’ ‘Positive.’
“你敢肯定吗？”“绝对肯定。”
certain
BEING SURE 肯定
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1
ADJ-GRADED 肯定的;有把握的;毫无疑问的
If you are certain about something, you firmly believe it is true and have no doubt about it. If you are not certain about something, you do not have definite knowledge about it.She's absolutely certain she's going to make it in the world...
她坚信自己会出人头地。
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2
ADJ-GRADED 必然的;必定的;肯定的
If you say that something is certain to happen, you mean that it will definitely happen.However, the scheme is certain to meet opposition from fishermen's leaders...
然而，这项计划一定会遭到渔民领袖的反对。
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3
ADJ 确凿的；无疑的
If you say that something is certain, you firmly believe that it is true, or have definite knowledge about it.One thing is certain, both have the utmost respect for each other...
有一点可以肯定，那就是双方都非常尊重对方。
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4
ADJ-GRADED 确实的;肯定的
If you have certain knowledge, you know that a particular thing is true.He had been there four times to my certain knowledge.
我确定他去过那儿4次。
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5
PHRASE 确切地;无疑地
If you know something for certain, you have no doubt at all about it.She couldn't know what time he'd go, or even for certain that he'd go at all...
她不知道他何时走，就连他到底走不走都说不准。
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6
PHRASE 确保；保证
If you make certain that something is the way you want or expect it to be, you take action to ensure that it is.Firstly, they must make certain that their pension needs are adequately catered for...
首先，他们得确保他们能获得足够的养老金。
REFERRING AND INDICATING AMOUNT 表示数量
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1
ADJ 某个;特定的
You use certain to indicate that you are referring to one particular thing, person, or group, although you are not saying exactly which it is.There will be certain people who'll say 'I told you so!'...
一定有人会说：“我怎么跟你说来着！”
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2
QUANT 某些;一些
When you refer to certain of a group of people or things, you are referring to some particular members of that group.They'll have to give up completely on certain of their studies.
他们将不得不彻底放弃某些研究。
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3
ADJ (用于人名前，表示不认识或了解很少)某个
You can use a certain before the name of a person in order to indicate that you do not know the person or anything else about them.She managed to arrange for them to be hidden in the house of a certain Father Boduen.
她设法安排他们藏在一个叫博迪恩的神父家里。
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4
ADJ (品质、特点等)一定程度上的，有点儿
You use a certain to indicate that something such as a quality or condition exists, and often to suggest that it is not great in amount or degree.That was the very reason why he felt a certain bitterness...
那就是为什么他感到有些痛苦。
adj
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1
- exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance
- be certain to disconnect the iron when you are through
- be sure to lock the doors
- Synonym: sure
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2
- certain to occur;destined or inevitable
- he was certain to fail
- his fate is certain
- In this life nothing is certain but death and taxes"- Benjamin Frankli
- he faced certain death
- sudden but sure regret
- he is sure to win
- Synonym: sure
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3
- reliable in operation or effect
- a quick and certain remedy
- a sure way to distinguish the two
- wood dust is a sure sign of termites
- Synonym: sure
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4
- established irrevocably
- his fate is sealed
- Synonym: sealed
数据来源：WordNet
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Certain of those present were unwilling to discuss the matter further .
某些在场的人不愿意进一步讨论这个问题。
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Those beliefs still prevail among certain social groups .
这些信念在某些社会群体中仍很盛行。
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The work must be completed within a certain time limit .
这项工作必须在一定期限内完成。
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The company 's financial position is not certain .
这家公司的财务状况不明朗。
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Many animals breed only at certain times of the year .
很多动物只在一年的某个时候交配繁殖。
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To my certain knowledge he was somewhere else at the time .
我敢肯定他当时在别处。
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I 'm not certain who was there .
我无法确定谁当时在场。
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As things stand at present , he seems certain to win .
据目前情况看，他似乎胜券在握。
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I can 't say for certain when we 'll arrive .
我说不准我们什么时候能到。
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It can be seen that certain groups are more at risk than others .
看得出，有的组风险大，有的组风险小。
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You 'll have to leave soon to make certain of getting there on time .
你得快点出发，好确保准时到达那里。
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For certain personal reasons I shall not be able to attend .
由于某种个人原因，我将不能出席。
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I accept his theories , but not without certain qualifications .
我接受他的理论，但并非毫无保留。
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A certain person told me about it .
有人告诉了我这件事。
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I 'm fairly certain I can do the job .
我有相当把握能干这项工作。
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That 's true , to a certain extent .
在一定程度上的确如此。
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The show appeals to an audience of a certain age .
这个节目中年观众感兴趣。
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As with all diseases , certain groups will be more at risk than others .
所有的疾病都是如此，一些人比另一些人更容易受到威胁。
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I agree with you to a certain degree .
我在某种程度上同意你的观点。
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Human beings are genetically programmed to learn certain kinds of language .
人类生来有学习某几种语言的遗传因素。
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They finally agreed to our terms with a certain reluctance .
他们最终有点勉强地同意了我们的条件。
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I think there 's a bus at 8 but you 'd better call to make certain .
好像8点有一班公共汽车，不过你最好打电话弄清楚。
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Short of a miracle , we 're certain to lose .
除非发生奇迹，否则我们输定了。
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If you want to be certain of getting a ticket , book now .
要想有把握买到票，现在就得预订。
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The company reserves the right to cancel this agreement in certain circumstances .
本公司保留在一定条件下取消这项协议的权利。
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It was a certain Dr Davis who performed the operation .
是一位叫戴维斯的医生做的手术。
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People who earn under a certain amount are not liable to pay tax .
收入低于一定数额者不必纳税。
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People can react badly to certain food additives .
人们对某些食品添加剂会严重过敏。
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Certain people might disagree with this .
某些人对这事可能不会赞同。
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Linking the proposals in a single package did have a certain logic .
把这些提议联系起来成为一揽子提议确有一定的道理。
指确定无疑的，表示说话人有确切的理由或不容置疑的证据，语气较强，通常作表语，多用于肯定句或正式的书面语中，常可与positive 换用，但不可单独用作回答。
He is absolutely certain/positive that he has met her before.
他绝对肯定他以前见过她。
She's not certain/positive when the movie will begin.
她不确定电影何时开始。
It is certain/positive that every effect must have a cause.
毋庸置疑，有果必有因。
He is certain/positive that the fruit is ripe.
他确信水果熟了。
指确信某事会以自己想要或期望的方式发生的，通常作表语。
They are confident next year's profits will be higher.
他们确信明年的利润会增加。
The French football team is confident of victory.
法国足球队对取胜很有把握。
The committee is confident of success.
委员会对成功很有把握。
指对某事深信不疑的，通常作表语，常后接介词 of 或 that 从句。
I am convinced that we are doing the right thing.
我确信我们做的事情是正确的。
I am fully convinced we can do it.
我完全确信我们能做这件事。
He is firmly convinced of the possibility of life on other planets.
他坚信在其他行星上可能存在生命。
指对某事物的正确性或真实性绝对肯定的，通常作表语，可单独用作肯定回答，常后接介词 about/of 或 that 从句。
She is absolutely positive that she opened the window.
她绝对肯定她开窗户了。
He can't be positive where he lost his key.
他说不准是在哪里丢的钥匙。
-Are you sure about that?
—-那事你能肯定吗？
-Positive.
—-能。
We'll benefit from this deal -I'm positive of that.
我们会从这笔交易中赚到钱的，对此我有把握。
指主观上对某事物的正确性或真实性没有疑虑的，常可与 certain 换用，但语气稍弱，通常作表语。
I am sure/certain that he is honest.
我肯定他是诚实的。
Are you sure/certain that this is the right road?
你肯定这条路对吗?
He wasn't sure/certain whether he would be able to get back as planned.
他不能肯定他是否能如期回来。
- 习语