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真实 (zhēn shí) — true, real

Definition

真实 means 'real/true' as a descriptive adjective — it modifies a noun (真实的故事 'a true story'), unlike 真的 or 确实 which work as adverbs modifying verbs. It emphasizes authenticity rather than sincerity (真诚) or practicality (现实).

adjective
truereal

Examples

  • 真实。
    Zhè ge xīn wén shì zhēn shí de.
    This news is true.
  • 真实。
    Tā shuō de dōu shì zhēn shí huà.
    Everything he said is true.
  • 真实！
    Zhè ge diàn yǐng tài zhēn shí le!
    This movie is so real!

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

真zhēntrue
实shíreal

真实 combines 真 as true and 实 as real to mean true and real.

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 →

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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