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实实在在 (shí shí zài zài) — genuine; real; concrete; down-to-earth; honest; dependable (of a person)

Definition

Reduplicated adverb/adjective meaning 'genuinely, concretely, down-to-earth' — emphasizes that something is real rather than just claimed or promised.

bound form
genuinerealconcretedown-to-earthhonestdependable (of a person)

Examples

  • 实实在在。
    Tā gěi wǒ men dài lái le shí shí zài zài de hǎo chù.
    He brought us real benefits.
  • 实实在在，。
    Zhè ge rén shí shí zài zài, nǐ kě yǐ xìn rèn tā.
    This person is honest and dependable; you can trust him.
  • 实实在在，。
    Tā shí shí zài zài dì gōng zuò, cóng bù tōu lǎn.
    She works in a real down-to-earth way and never slacks off.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

实实
实shísolid实shísolid
在在
在zàiexist在zàiexist

The doubled 实 and 在 stress that something is solid and real.

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 →

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.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →
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