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其实 (qí shí) — actually, in fact, really

Definition

其实 flags a contrast to what was assumed or expected — 'actually, in fact'. It corrects a prior belief. 确实 confirms a fact you already suspected; 真正 emphasizes that something is genuinely true.

adverb
actuallyin factreally

Examples

  • ，其实。
    Wǒ yǐ wéi tā bù lái le, qí shí tā zǎo jiù dào le.
    I thought he wasn't coming, but actually he arrived early.
  • ，其实。
    Zhè ge wèn tí kàn qǐ lái hěn nán, qí shí hěn jiǎn dān.
    This problem looks difficult, but it's actually very simple.
  • ，其实。
    Dà jiā dōu shuō hǎo, qí shí wǒ bú tài xǐ huan.
    Everyone says it's good, but actually I don't like it very much.

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.

其qíthat
实shíreality

其 points to the situation and 实 to the underlying fact, giving actually.

Characters in this word

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

The modern form 其 comes from an early drawing of a basket, with a stand added underneath.

Open 其 →

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 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3HSK 2.0 Level 31000 Most Frequent Chinese Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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