诚实 (chéng shí) — honest

Definition

Honest, chiefly about not lying or cheating. 真诚 and 诚恳 focus more on sincerity in feelings and words; 诚信 emphasizes trust and integrity.

adjective
honest

Examples

  • 诚实，。
    Tā fēi cháng chéng shí, cóng bú piàn rén.
    He is very honest and never lies.
  • 诚实。
    Zuò yí gè chéng shí de rén hěn zhòng yào.
    It is important to be an honest person.
  • 诚实。
    Wǒ men dōu yào zuò yí gè chéng shí de xué shēng.
    We all should be honest students.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

诚chéngsincere
实shítrue

诚实 joins 诚 (sincere) and 实 (true) into a parallel pair meaning honest.

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 誠; 诚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
成
成chéng誠chéng
Same sound today

In 誠, 言 is the speech part and 成 gives the sound; this is about the traditional form 誠, not the simplified 诚.

Open 诚 →

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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