真情实意 (zhēn qíng shí yì) — genuine sincerity, heartfelt feelings and real intentions

Definition

A formal four-character idiom meaning sincere feelings and genuine intentions, often used in writing about honest relationships or heartfelt actions. Stronger and more literary than everyday words like 真心.

idiom
genuine sincerity, heartfelt feelings and real intentions

Examples

  • 真情实意，。
    Tā duì péng you zǒng shì zhēn qíng shí yì, cóng bù xū jiǎ.
    He always treats his friends with genuine sincerity and never with falseness.
  • ，真情实意。
    Zhè fèn lǐ wù suī rán bú guì, què shì tā de yí piàn zhēn qíng shí yì.
    Although this gift isn't expensive, it represents a piece of her genuine sincerity.
  • ，真情实意。
    Xiāng chǔ shí, wǒ men yào yòng zhēn qíng shí yì qù dǎ dòng duì fāng.
    When we spend time together, we should use genuine sincerity to move the other person.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

真情true feelings
真zhēntrue情qíngfeeling
偏正Modifier + head
实意real intentions
实shíreal意yìintention
偏正Modifier + head

真情 'true feelings' and 实意 'real intentions' stand together for genuine sincerity.

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 →

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 →

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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 意 →

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