实情 (shí qíng) — the actual situation; the truth (of a matter)

Definition

noun

the actual situationthe truth (of a matter)

Examples

实情。
Nǐ yīng gāi gào sù wǒ men shí qíng.
You should tell us the truth.
实情。
Diào chá shí qíng xū yào shí jiān.
Investigating the actual situation takes time.
实情。
Tā yǐn mán le shí qíng.
He concealed the truth.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

实shíactual

情qíngsituation

实 (actual) and 情 (situation) together mean the real state of affairs.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

青

青qīng情qíng

Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Open 情 →

Appears in

Abstract Concepts