Difference between 確{たし}かに and 誠{まこと}に


What is the difference between 確かに and 誠に? I found that:  
確かに means: certainly, indeed, surely, sure, definitely;  
誠に means: indeed, truly, really, surely.  
Looks like the meanings are almost the same. When each of those words should
be used?




確かに and 誠に have very similar meanings. The difference between them is that 確かに
is often used in everyday conversation, but 誠に. 誠に usually used in very formal
situation or some historical period drama, because it sounds very formal and
somewhat old. So I recommend you to use 確かに.

Here are some examples:

  * 確かにそう思う。 (I surely think so; good usage)
  * 誠にそう思う。 (I surely think so; somewhat sounds like an old people)

誠に is often used when a company or an organization made a serious mistake or
have a serious problem and want to make apologise. They sometimes use "誠に遺憾"
which means "truly shameful", to accept the problem is really serious. You
could replace 誠に with 確かに, like "確かに遺憾", but it isn't formal enough for the
situation.




確かに and 誠に have very similar meanings. The difference between them is that 確かに
is often used in everyday conversation, but 誠に. 誠に usually used in very formal
situation or some historical period drama, because it sounds very formal and
somewhat old. So I recommend you to use 確かに.

Here are some examples:

  * 確かにそう思う。 (I surely think so; good usage)
  * 誠にそう思う。 (I surely think so; somewhat sounds like an old people)

誠に is often used when a company or an organization made a serious mistake or
have a serious problem and want to make apologise. They sometimes use "誠に遺憾"
which means "truly shameful", to accept the problem is really serious. You
could replace 誠に with 確かに, like "確かに遺憾", but it isn't formal enough for the
situation.

