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March 24, 2026
诚实(誠實)chéngshí(cheng2shi2)
诚实 (chéng shí) refers to the quality of being honest and truthful. It embodies a sense of integrity and trustworthiness, often valued in both personal relationships and professional environments. This word is commonly used to describe a person's character or behavior, particularly in contexts emphasizing moral value.
Strokes16Frequency#2427DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, honesty is highly valued, especially in business and personal relationships. The concept of 诚实 is often linked to the traditional virtue of loyalty and integrity, which are essential in maintaining harmonious relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'cheng' (like 'change') that transforms into a 'shi' (like 'sheep')—where a sheep symbolizes purity and innocence. Visualize a sheep being completely honest and truthful, never lying or deceiving anyone. This image connects the character's meaning of honesty with its pronunciation.
Meanings of 诚实
chéngshí(cheng2shi2)
1honest
2honesty
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About 诚实
诚实Simplified
誠實Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#2427Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 诚实
Podcast: 诚实
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AI Study Notes for 诚实
Quick Contrast
诚信 (chéng xìn) vs 诚实 (chéng shí): 诚信 emphasizes not only honesty but also trustworthiness in commitments, while 诚实 focuses solely on truthfulness in speech and actions.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of using 诚实 in appropriate contexts; it is generally more formal. A common mistake is to confuse it with '真实' (zhēn shí), which means 'real' or 'true', rather than 'honest'. Remember to use it in conjunction with verbs like '说' (to speak) or '对待' (to treat) to convey the action of being honest.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 诚实 connects well with other vocabulary related to personal qualities and moral values. Focus on its usage in sentences and practice forming phrases that express honesty in various contexts, such as in discussions about trust and character.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 诚实 with '诚恳' (chéng kěn), which means 'sincere'. For example, saying '他很诚实' when you meant '他很诚恳' could lead to misunderstandings about the nature of the person's honesty versus their sincerity.
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Pronunciation of 诚实
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诚实 (chéng shí) refers to the quality of being honest and truthful. It embodies a sense of integrity and trustworthiness, often valued in both personal relationships and professional environments. This word is commonly used to describe a person's character or behavior, particularly in contexts emphasizing moral value.
When to use 诚实
Be mindful of using 诚实 in appropriate contexts; it is generally more formal. A common mistake is to confuse it with '真实' (zhēn shí), which means 'real' or 'true', rather than 'honest'. Remember to use it in conjunction with verbs like '说' (to speak) or '对待' (to treat) to convey the action of being honest.
诚实 or something close to it
诚信 (chéng xìn) vs 诚实 (chéng shí): 诚信 emphasizes not only honesty but also trustworthiness in commitments, while 诚实 focuses solely on truthfulness in speech and actions.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 诚实 with '诚恳' (chéng kěn), which means 'sincere'. For example, saying '他很诚实' when you meant '他很诚恳' could lead to misunderstandings about the nature of the person's honesty versus their sincerity.
Write 诚实
诚
实
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Grammar Patterns of 诚实
诚实 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. 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.
