实属 (shí shǔ) — (formal) to really be, to indeed belong to (a category)

Definition

A formal, written phrase meaning 'truly is / indeed belongs to', used to emphatically categorize something (e.g. 实属罕见 'truly rare'). Not for everyday speech.

verb
(formal) to really beto indeed belong to (a category)

Examples

  • ，实属。
    Tā néng qǔ dé zhè yàng de chéng jì, shí shǔ bú yì.
    It's truly not easy for him to achieve such results.
  • 实属。
    Zhè zhǒng zì rán xiàn xiàng shí shǔ hǎn jiàn.
    This natural phenomenon is truly rare.
  • ，实属。
    Zài rú cǐ duǎn de shí jiān nèi wán chéng xiàng mù, shí shǔ nán néng kě guì.
    Completing the project in such a short time is truly commendable.

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.

实shíreal/truly
属shǔbelong

The sense of real/truly combines with belong to mean indeed belong.

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 屬; 属 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
㞑Written in full as尾wěitail
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ屬shǔ
Same sound today

The traditional form 屬 pairs 㞑 (tail) with 蜀 as a sound part; the simplified 属 is a shorthand.

Open 属 →

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