Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
实话 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
实话shíhuàtruthHSK 6, v, 16 strokes, rank #1540, Hard
shíhuà(shi2hua4)shi hua T2
  1. 1truth
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

实话(實話)shíhuà(shi2hua4)

实话 (shí huà) means 'the truth' or 'to speak the truth.' It is commonly used to emphasize honesty or to indicate that what is being said is a genuine representation of reality. This term is often used in conversational contexts when someone wants to affirm the authenticity of their statements.

Strokes16Frequency#1540DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, honesty is highly valued, and speaking the truth is often seen as a virtue. The phrase 实话 is commonly used in everyday conversations to express sincerity, reflecting the importance of trust in personal relationships.

Memory tip

Think of 实 (shí) as a solid 'real' foundation, and 话 (huà) referring to 'words' or 'speech.' Together, they form 'real words' that convey truth. Imagine a sturdy building made of bricks (实) where the walls are decorated with honest speech (话).

Meanings of 实话

shíhuà(shi2hua4)
1truth
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 实话 means.

About 实话

实话Simplified
實話Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1540Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 实话

JasonAmy

Podcast: 实话

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 实话

Quick Contrast

真话 (zhēn huà) — use 实话 when emphasizing the authenticity of the statement in a conversational context, while 真话 can be more general and less focused on the context of honesty.

Usage Notes

A common mistake is to confuse 实话 with similar terms like 真实 (zhēn shí, 'real'). Remember that 实话 specifically refers to spoken truth. It is typically used in informal contexts, so be cautious when using it in formal writing. Also, be mindful of the tones, as incorrect pronunciation can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 实话 connects well with other vocabulary related to communication and honesty. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in various sentences and practice using it in dialogues to enhance fluency. Exploring phrases like 说实话 (shuō shí huà, 'to speak the truth') is beneficial.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 实话 with 事实 (shì shí, 'fact') and use them interchangeably. For example, saying 实话 to mean 'fact' is incorrect; instead, use 事实 in that context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 实话

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 实话, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 实话 to you

Let me explain 实话 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 实话 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 实话?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 实话 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

实shíreal
HSK 48 strokes宀
View full entry
话huàspoken words
HSK 18 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say truth in Chinese

“truth” in Chinese is实话shíhuà

实话 (shí huà) means 'the truth' or 'to speak the truth.' It is commonly used to emphasize honesty or to indicate that what is being said is a genuine representation of reality. This term is often used in conversational contexts when someone wants to affirm the authenticity of their statements.

When to use 实话

A common mistake is to confuse 实话 with similar terms like 真实 (zhēn shí, 'real'). Remember that 实话 specifically refers to spoken truth. It is typically used in informal contexts, so be cautious when using it in formal writing. Also, be mindful of the tones, as incorrect pronunciation can lead to misunderstandings.

实话 or something close to it

真话 (zhēn huà) — use 实话 when emphasizing the authenticity of the statement in a conversational context, while 真话 can be more general and less focused on the context of honesty.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 实话 with 事实 (shì shí, 'fact') and use them interchangeably. For example, saying 实话 to mean 'fact' is incorrect; instead, use 事实 in that context.

Write 实话

实
话

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar patterns of 实话

实话 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

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

我说的是____,你爱信不信。

What I said is the truth — believe it or not.

Example sentences for 实话 (9)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
实话告诉你,我今晚有点儿心神不宁。

shíhuà gàosu nǐ, wǒ jīn wǎn yǒudiǎnr xīn shén bù níng。

To tell the truth, I'm a bit unsettled tonight.
2
“说实话,我的网球基本上属于业余水平,”他承认说。

“ shuōshíhuà, wǒ de wǎngqiú jīběnshàng shǔyú yèyú shuǐpíng,” tā chéngrèn shuō。

"Actually, most of my tennis is at club level," he admitted.
3
现在你该给他讲点实话了。

xiànzài nǐ gāi gěi tā jiǎng diǎn shíhuà le。

It's time you told him a few home truths.
4
说实话,这所房子不太适合我们。

shuōshíhuà, zhè suǒ fángzi bùtài shìhé wǒmen。

To be honest the house is not quite our style.
5
说实话,我不太喜欢精神科医生。

shuōshíhuà, wǒ bùtài xǐhuan jīngshénkē yīshēng。

To tell the truth, I don't think much of psychiatrists.
6
你认为她在讲实话吗?

nǐ rènwéi tā zài jiǎng shíhuà ma?

Do you think she's telling the truth ?
7
现在跟我说实话:我不想再听你胡编乱诌了。

xiànzài gēn wǒ shuōshíhuà: wǒ bù xiǎng zài tīng nǐ hú biān luàn zhōu le。

Now tell me the truth: I don't want any more of your fairy stories.
8
面对老板的提问,他犹豫了一下,最终还是决定说出实话。

Miànduì lǎobǎn de tíwèn, tā yóuyù le yīxià, zuìzhōng háishi juédìng shuōchū shíhuà.

Faced with the boss's question, he hesitated for a moment and finally decided to tell the truth.
9
实话实说,我对这项计划的前景并不乐观。

Shíhuà shíshuō, wǒ duì zhè xiàng jìhuà de qiánjǐng bìng bù lèguān.

To be honest, I am not optimistic about the prospects of this plan.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 实话?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Frequently asked questions about 实话

While 实话 is mainly used in informal conversations, it can sometimes be used in semi-formal settings if the context allows for a more personal touch.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 实话?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab