Definition
实质 (shí zhì) means 'essence, substance' — the real, underlying part of something, often contrasted with its form or appearance. It differs from 本质 (běn zhì), which refers to the intrinsic nature or fundamental quality of a thing. While 本质 is about what something fundamentally is, 实质 focuses on what is actual and concrete beneath the surface.
noun
essencesubstancethe essential part
Easily confused
- 市值shì zhísound-alikemarket capitalization, market value
Examples
- ，实质。Wǒmen bù néng zhǐ kàn biǎomiàn, yào liǎojiě wèntí de shí zhì.We can't just look at the surface; we need to understand the essence of the problem.
- ，实质。Tǎolùn le bàntiān, dàn shí zhì shàng méiyǒu jìnzhǎn.We discussed for a long time, but there was no progress in substance.
- ，实质。Zhè xiàng gǎigé de xíngshì suīrán biàn le, shí zhì bìng méiyǒu gǎibiàn.Although the form of this reform has changed, its essence hasn't.
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