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实话实说 (shí huà shí shuō) — to tell the truth, to be honest; to speak frankly, to call a spade a spade

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'to tell the truth / speak frankly' — more emphatic than just 说实话, emphasizing honesty on both sides of a conversation. Often used as a sentence opener to signal a candid opinion.

phrase
to tell the truthto be honestto speak franklyto call a spade a spade

Examples

  • 实话实说，。
    shí huà shí shuō, Wǒ jué de nǐ de fāng àn hái yǒu wèn tí.
    To be honest, I think your plan still has problems.
  • ，实话实说。
    Zài zhè ge huì shàng, měi rén dōu bì xū shí huà shí shuō.
    At this meeting, everyone must speak frankly.
  • 实话实说，？
    shí huà shí shuō Ba, nǐ dào dǐ xǐ bu xǐ huan zhè fèn gōng zuò?
    Tell me honestly, do you actually like this job or not?

Origin

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 話; 话 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑話huà
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 話, 言 relates to words and 𠯑 gives the sound; the simplified 话 is a shorthand, so its right side is not that sound part.

Open 话 →

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 說; 说 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì說shuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 說 pairs 言 (meaning) with 兌 (sound); the simplified 说 is not the form described here.

Open 说 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Communication & SpeechIdioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.