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其实不然 (qí shí bù rán) — actually, that is not the case

Definition

A set phrase used in writing to refute an implied or stated assumption — 'actually, that is not the case' / 'in fact, the opposite is true.' Equivalent to 其实不是这样.

idiom
actuallythat is not the case

Examples

  • ？其实不然，。
    Nǐ yǐ wéi tā zǒu le? qí shí bù rán, tā hái zài.
    You think he left? Actually, that's not the case – he's still here.
  • ，其实不然，。
    Hěn duō rén dōu shuō zhè bù xiǎo shuō wú liáo, qí shí bù rán, tā hěn yǒu yì si.
    Many people say this novel is boring; actually, that's not the case – it's very interesting.
  • ，其实不然，。
    Tā men yǐ wéi shì qing hěn jiǎn dān, qí shí bù rán, fēi cháng fù zá.
    They thought it was simple; actually, it's very complicated.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The modern form 其 comes from an early drawing of a basket, with a stand added underneath.

Open 其 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 周周zhōucarved jade
  • 貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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