TongTong
Sign in

照实 (zhào shí) — to tell the truth; to be based on facts

Definition

An adverbial phrase meaning 'truthfully, according to fact' — used to ask someone to report or answer honestly, without hiding or exaggerating. Set phrase built from 照 ('according to') + 实 ('reality').

verb
to tell the truthto be based on facts

Examples

  • 照实。
    Qǐng nǐ zhào shí huí dá wǒ de wèn tí.
    Please answer my questions truthfully.
  • 照实，。
    Tā zhào shí shuō le, méi yǒu yǐn mán.
    He told the truth and didn't hide anything.
  • ，。
    Nǐ zhào gè shí shuō jiù xíng, bú yòng kuā zhāng.
    Just tell the truth, no need to exaggerate.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

照zhàofollow
实shífacts

照 means to follow or according to and 实 means facts, together conveying speaking or acting on facts.

Characters in this word

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
灬Written in full as火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
昭
昭zhāo照zhào
Same sound today

照 uses 灬, a bottom form of 火 (fire), plus 昭 for the sound.

Open 照 →

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 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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