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真正 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
真正zhēnzhènggenuineHSK 4, d, 15 strokes, rank #472, Medium
真正zhēnzhèngrealHSK 4, d, 15 strokes, rank #472, Medium
真正zhēnzhèngtrueHSK 4, d, 15 strokes, rank #472, Medium
真正zhēnzhènggenuinelyHSK 4, d, 15 strokes, rank #472, Medium
zhēnzhèng(zhen1zheng4)zhen zheng T1
  1. 1genuine
  2. 2real
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March 24, 2026

真正zhēnzhèng(zhen1zheng4)

真正 (zhēnzhèng) means genuine, real, or true. It is often used to emphasize authenticity or the true nature of something, distinguishing it from imitations or superficial appearances. This word is commonly used in various contexts, such as discussing feelings, experiences, or objects.

Strokes15Frequency#472DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of authenticity is highly valued, especially in relationships and traditional practices. The phrase '真正的心' (a true heart) reflects the importance of sincerity in personal interactions.

Memory tip

Think of '真正' as a treasure chest revealing the true value inside. The character '真' (zhēn) looks like a person standing firm, representing truth, while '正' (zhèng) can be imagined as a straight path, symbolizing correctness or authenticity. Together, they signify finding the true and genuine path.

Meanings of 真正

zhēnzhèng(zhen1zheng4)
1genuine
2real
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 真正

真正Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#472Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 真正

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Podcast: 真正

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AI study notes for 真正

Quick Contrast

真正 (zhēnzhèng) vs 真实 (zhēnshí) — choose 真正 when emphasizing authenticity or the true nature of something, while 真实 focuses more on the factual existence or reality of something.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of using 真正 in appropriate contexts; it is more formal than just saying '真' (zhēn). Common collocations include '真正的朋友' (genuine friends) and '真正的意义' (true meaning). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that convey different nuances.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 真正 helps learners express deeper nuances of authenticity in conversations. Students should focus on using it in various sentence structures and practice distinguishing it from other adjectives like '假的' (fake).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 真正 with 真的 (zhēn de), which is less formal. For example, saying '这是一个真正的事' (This is a genuine matter) should be corrected to '这是一件真正的事'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 真正

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Component characters

真zhēnreally
HSK 110 strokes目
View full entry
正zhèngstraight
HSK 25 strokes止
View full entry

How to say genuine in Chinese

“genuine” in Chinese is真正zhēnzhèng

真正 (zhēnzhèng) means genuine, real, or true. It is often used to emphasize authenticity or the true nature of something, distinguishing it from imitations or superficial appearances. This word is commonly used in various contexts, such as discussing feelings, experiences, or objects.

When to use 真正

Be mindful of using 真正 in appropriate contexts; it is more formal than just saying '真' (zhēn). Common collocations include '真正的朋友' (genuine friends) and '真正的意义' (true meaning). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that convey different nuances.

真正 or something close to it

真正 (zhēnzhèng) vs 真实 (zhēnshí) — choose 真正 when emphasizing authenticity or the true nature of something, while 真实 focuses more on the factual existence or reality of something.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 真正 with 真的 (zhēn de), which is less formal. For example, saying '这是一个真正的事' (This is a genuine matter) should be corrected to '这是一件真正的事'.

Write 真正

真
正

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

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Grammar patterns of 真正

真正 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons2
Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

只有深入其中，你才能____欣赏教堂的富丽堂皇。

Only inside do you appreciate the church's true grandeur.

Example sentences for 真正 (15)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
dgenuine13
1
只有深入其中，你才能真正欣赏教堂的富丽堂皇。

zhǐyǒu shēnrù qízhōng， nǐ cáinéng zhēnzhèng xīnshǎng jiàotáng de fù lí táng huáng。

Only inside do you appreciate the church's true grandeur.
2
你一直在无目的地更换工作，从未真正投入进去。

nǐ yìzhí zài wú mùdìdì gēnghuàn gōngzuò， cóngwèi zhēnzhèng tóurù jìnqù。

You'vebeen drifting from job to job without any real commitment.
3
你很够朋友，是真正的患难之交。

nǐ hěn gòu péngyou， shì zhēnzhèng de huàn nán zhī jiāo。

You were a brick, a real friend in need.
4
真正的危险是该国东部地区的民众动乱。

zhēnzhèng de wēixiǎn shì gāi guó dōngbù dìqū de mínzhòng dòng luàn。

The real danger is civil unrest in the east of the country.
5
这辆车必须归还给真正的主人。

zhè liàng chē bìxū guīhuán gěi zhēnzhèng de zhǔrén。

The car must be returned to its rightful owner.
6
我必须查清造成这一混乱局面的真正原因。

wǒ bìxū chá qīng zàochéng zhè yī hùnluàn júmiàn de zhēnzhèng yuányīn。

I have to get to the bottom of this mess.
7
全体演职人员以一种真正的专业精神，从容不迫地开始了影片的制作。

quántǐ yǎn zhí rényuán yǐ yī zhǒng zhēnzhèng de zhuānyè jīngshen， cóngróngbúpò dì kāishǐ le yǐngpiàn de zhìzuò。

The whole cast executed the production with truly professional aplomb.
8
作为一名选手，他毫无私念，真正把自己摆在团队中。

zuòwéi yī míng xuǎnshǒu， tā háowú sī niàn， zhēnzhèng bǎ zìjǐ bǎi zài tuánduì zhōng。

As a player he was unselfish, a true team man.
9
当艺术有助于人们了解自身的时候才有真正的意义。

dāng yìshù yǒuzhùyú rénmen liǎojiě zìshēn de shíhou cái yǒu zhēnzhèng de yìyì。

Art has real meaning when it helps people to understand themselves.
10
他们的经营既有真正的专业水准又不乏个人特色。

tāmen de jīngyíng jì yǒu zhēnzhèng de zhuānyè shuǐzhǔn yòu bùfá gèrén tèsè。

They run it with a truly professional but personal touch.
11
在这个充满虚伪的世界里，找到一个真正关心你的人非常不容易。

Zài zhège chōngmǎn xūwěi de shìjiè lǐ, zhǎodào yī gè zhēnzhèng guānxīn nǐ de rén fēicháng bù róngyì.

In this world full of hypocrisy, finding someone who genuinely cares about you is very difficult.
12
只有亲身经历过，才能体会到真正的痛苦是什么样的。

Zhǐyǒu qīnshēn jīnglì guò, cáinéng tǐhuì dào zhēnzhèng de tòngkǔ shì shénme yàng de.

Only by experiencing it yourself can you understand what genuine pain is like.
13
这位作家通过真实的故事，揭示了人性的真正善良。

Zhè wèi zuòjiā tōngguò zhēnshí de gùshì, jiēshì le rénxìng de zhēnzhèng shànliáng.

This writer reveals the genuine kindness of human nature through real stories.
dreal2
14
真正的朋友会在你需要帮助的时候出现。

Zhēnzhèng de péngyǒu huì zài nǐ xūyào bāngzhù de shíhòu chūxiàn.

Real friends show up when you need help.
15
这部电影让我看到了真正的勇气是什么。

Zhè bù diànyǐng ràng wǒ kàn dào le zhēnzhèng de yǒngqì shì shénme.

This movie showed me what real courage is.

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Frequently asked questions about 真正

Yes, you can use 真正 to describe people, especially when referring to their genuine character or true emotions.

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