TongTong
Sign in

真人真事 (zhēn rén zhēn shì) — real people and real events (used to describe content based on true occurrences)

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'real people and real events' — used to stress that a story, movie, or book is based on true occurrences, not fiction. Often contrasts with 虚构.

noun
real people and real events (used to describe content based on true occurrences)

Examples

  • 真人真事。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng shì gēn jù zhēn rén zhēn shì gǎi biān de.
    This movie is adapted from real people and real events.
  • 真人真事。
    Tā xiě de zhēn rén zhēn shì gù shi gǎn dòng le hěn duō rén.
    The true stories he wrote (based on real people and events) moved many people.
  • 真人真事，。
    Zhè běn xiǎo shuō shì zhēn rén zhēn shì, bú shì xū gòu de.
    This novel is based on real events and real people, not fiction.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

真人
真zhēnreal人rénperson
偏正Modifier + head
真事
真zhēnreal事shìevent
偏正Modifier + head

真人真事 joins 真人 real people and 真事 real events, both using 真 to mean actual.

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
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →

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
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →

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

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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