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现实 (xiàn shí) — (noun) reality, actual situation; (adjective) realistic, practical; (adjective, often derog.) materialistic, overly concerned with personal gain

Definition

As a noun, 现实 means 'reality' — the actual situation rather than an ideal one. As an adjective it means 'realistic, practical' (similar to 实际), but as a person can mean 'materialistic, only caring about money' (negative).

noun
realityactual situation(adjective, often derog.) materialistic, overly concerned with personal gain
adjective
realisticpractical

Examples

  • 现实。
    Wǒ men bì xū yào miàn duì xiàn shí.
    We must face reality.
  • 现实，。
    Zhè ge fāng àn hěn xiàn shí, kě yǐ mǎ shàng zhí xíng.
    This plan is very realistic and can be executed immediately.
  • 现实，。
    Tā tài xiàn shí le, zhī xiǎng zhe zhuàn qián.
    He is too materialistic — he only thinks about making money.

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.

现xiànpresent
实shíactual

现 (present) and 实 (actual) give the actual state of affairs.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 現; 现 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
見
見jiàn現
Same sound today

The traditional form 現 pairs 玉 (jade) with 見 as a sound part; the simplified 现 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 现 →

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 →
Appears in
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