真儿 (zhēn ér) — (colloquial) truth; real thing; actual situation

Definition

真儿 (zhēn er) is a colloquial suffix meaning 'the real thing' or 'the actual situation', almost always after 较 or 看 (e.g. 较真儿, 看真儿). It's informal spoken style, not used in writing.

noun
(colloquial) truthreal thingactual situation

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā shuō huà zǒng ài jiào zhēn ér, ràng rén jué de hěn lèi.
    He always insists on being literal when speaking, which makes people feel tired.
  • 真儿，。
    Zhè jiàn shì nǐ dé kàn zhēn ér le, bù néng mǎ hu.
    You need to see the truth of this matter clearly; you can't be careless.
  • ，。
    Bié gēn wǒ jiào zhēn ér, zhè shì r méi nà me fù zá.
    Don't take me so literally; this matter isn't that complicated.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

真zhēntrue
儿érerhua

真 'true' plus 儿 gives a colloquial word for 'truth' or 'real thing'.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →

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

The shape 儿 is a simple drawing of a standing person, used as an alternate form of the character for person.

Open 儿 →

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