实 meaning and stroke order
Real, true; honest, sincere
How to write 实, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 3
- 4
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- 8
Meaning of 实
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- real
- true
- honest
- really
- solid
- fruit
How 实 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 宀 (roof), shared by 67 characters on this site.
How to remember 实
实 is a roof 宀 over 头 (tóu, head). Picture a real person standing under a real roof, something solid and true you can actually see.
实 rarely stands alone in modern speech. It mostly appears in words like 其实 (qíshí, actually), 确实 (quèshí, indeed), and 实现 (shíxiàn, to achieve). Example: 其实我不饿。(Qíshí wǒ bù è.) Actually, I'm not hungry.
Common mistake: Learners often write the bottom as 买 (mǎi) or add extra dots, but the bottom of 实 is 头 with its two dots on the left. Also don't confuse it with 时 (shí, time), which sounds identical but is a different character.
Common words with 实
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 实在 | shízài | really; actually | HSK 2 |
| 实现 | shíxiàn | to achieve; to implement; to realize; to bring about | HSK 2 |
| 实际 | shíjì | reality; practice | HSK 2 |
| 实习 | shíxí | to practice; field work | HSK 2 |
| 其实 | qíshí | actually; in fact; really | HSK 3 |
| 确实 | quèshí | indeed; really | HSK 3 |
| 事实 | shìshí | fact | HSK 3 |
| 事实上 | shìshíshang | in fact; in reality | HSK 3 |
| 实际上 | shíjìshàng | in fact; in reality | HSK 3 |
| 真实 | zhēnshí | true; real | HSK 3 |
| 现实 | xiànshí | reality; actuality; real; actual | HSK 3 |
| 实验室 | shíyànshì | laboratory | HSK 3 |
| 实验 | shíyàn | experiment; test | HSK 3 |
| 实力 | shílì | strength | HSK 3 |
实 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 实
How many strokes are in 实?
实 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 实 mean?
实 (shí) means real, true; honest, sincere. A common word with it is 实在 (shízài), meaning "really; actually".
How do you pronounce 实?
实 is pronounced shí, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 实?
The radical of 实 is 宀, which carries the idea of "roof". Dictionaries list 实 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 实?
The traditional form of 实 is 實. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 实 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 实 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 实 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 其实 and 确实?
其实 (qíshí) means 'actually' and introduces something that differs from what was expected. 确实 (quèshí) means 'indeed' and confirms that something is true. Use 其实 to correct, and 确实 to agree.
Does 实在 always mean 'really'?
As an adverb, 实在 (shízài) means 'really' or 'truly', as in 实在太累了 (shízài tài lèi le), I'm really too tired. As an adjective it can also describe a person as honest or down to earth.