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實 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
實shíreal, true; honest, sincerex, 14 strokes, radical 宀
shí(shi2)shi T2
  1. 1real, true; honest, sincere
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March 24, 2026

實shí(shi2)

The character 實 (shí) conveys the idea of something being real, true, or genuine. It is commonly used in contexts that emphasize authenticity, honesty, and sincerity, such as describing feelings, qualities, or experiences. Additionally, it can imply a sense of practicality and reliability in various situations.

Strokes14Radical宀
Cultural note

In Chinese philosophy, particularly Confucianism, the concept of sincerity (誠, chéng) is deeply valued, and 實 embodies this principle. Being 'real' or 'true' is associated with moral integrity and is essential in personal and professional relationships.

Memory tip

Imagine a solid brick (the radical '土' for earth) representing something real and substantial. The character looks like a person standing firmly on the ground, symbolizing honesty and sincerity, as they can't be swayed by falsehoods. Remember that 'shí' sounds like 'she' - the solid person who tells the truth.

Meanings of 實

shí(shi2)
1real, true; honest, sincere
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 實

實Simplified
14Strokes
宀Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 實

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Podcast: 實

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AI Study Notes for 實

Quick Contrast

真实 (zhēnshí) vs 实际 (shíjì) — use 真实 when emphasizing the truth or authenticity of something, while 实际 focuses more on the practicality or reality of a situation.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 實 with 事 (shì), which means 'matter' or 'thing'. Use 實 in contexts where authenticity is highlighted, such as 實話 (shíhuà) meaning 'honest words'. Be cautious with the tone; the second tone can change the meaning significantly.

HSK Study Tips

Although 實 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it relates to many foundational concepts at HSK level 4 and above, such as 實際 (shíjì, 'actual') and 實用 (shíyòng, 'practical'). Focus on recognizing its use in various collocations and phrases to strengthen your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners may incorrectly use 實 when they mean 'to happen' (发生, fāshēng), leading to confusion. Instead, remember to use 實 specifically for contexts of truthfulness and reality.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 實

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Etymology of 實

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 實. 貫 is a pictograph of a string of money. Based on the original meaning "thrive; plentiful". The meaning later shifted to "real", "true", and "fruit".

Memory hint

pierce

Semantic (meaning)貫
+
Phonetic (sound)宀
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

實 = 貫 + 宀. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 實

IDS Structure⿱宀貫
實Full character
=
宀gai4
top
貫guan4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 實?

How to say real, true; honest, sincere in Chinese

“real, true; honest, sincere” in Chinese is實shí

The character 實 (shí) conveys the idea of something being real, true, or genuine. It is commonly used in contexts that emphasize authenticity, honesty, and sincerity, such as describing feelings, qualities, or experiences. Additionally, it can imply a sense of practicality and reliability in various situations.

When to use 實

Learners often confuse 實 with 事 (shì), which means 'matter' or 'thing'. Use 實 in contexts where authenticity is highlighted, such as 實話 (shíhuà) meaning 'honest words'. Be cautious with the tone; the second tone can change the meaning significantly.

實 or something close to it

真实 (zhēnshí) vs 实际 (shíjì) — use 真实 when emphasizing the truth or authenticity of something, while 实际 focuses more on the practicality or reality of a situation.

What learners get wrong

Learners may incorrectly use 實 when they mean 'to happen' (发生, fāshēng), leading to confusion. Instead, remember to use 實 specifically for contexts of truthfulness and reality.

Write 實

實

Practice writing 實 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 實

Words containing this character20
其实qíshíactually其實
确实quèshíindeed確實
实现shíxiànto achieve實現
事实shìshífact事實
事实上shìshíshàngin fact事實上
实际上shíjìshàngin fact實際上
实在shízàireally實在
实施shíshīto implement實施
真实zhēnshítrue真實
现实xiànshíreality現實
实际shíjìreality實際
实验shíyàntest實驗
实行shíxíngto implement實行
实力shílìstrength實力
实验室shíyànshìlaboratory實驗室
实shíreal實
实践shíjiànpractice實踐
实话shíhuàtruth實話
证实zhèngshíto verify證實
落实luòshípractical落實
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 實

What does 其实 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 實

You can say 實話實說 (shíhuà shíshuō), which means 'to speak honestly'.

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