實 meaning and stroke order
Real, true; honest, sincere
How to write 實, stroke by stroke
14 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
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
Meaning of 實
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- real
- true
- honest
- really
- solid
- fruit
How 實 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Pierce.
貫 gives the meaning and 宀 hints at the sound.
Radical: 宀 (roof), shared by 67 characters on this site.
How to remember 實
實 is a roof 宀 over 貫, a string of coins pierced through the middle. A house truly full of strung money is solid and real, not empty.
實 is the traditional form of 实, so you will see it in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and older texts, while mainland words like 实在 and 其实 use the simplified form. It often means real or in fact. Example: 其實我不知道。(Qíshí wǒ bù zhīdào.) Actually, I don't know.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 實 with 寶 (bǎo, treasure), since both have 宀 on top and money parts below. Remember that 實 has 貫 (a string of coins) under the roof, while 寶 has 玉, 缶, and 貝.
Common words with 實
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 實在 | shízài | really; actually | HSK 2 |
| 實現 | shíxiàn | to achieve; to implement; to realize; to bring about | HSK 2 |
| 實際 | shíjì | reality; practice | HSK 2 |
| 實習 | shíxí | to practice; field work | HSK 2 |
| 其實 | qíshí | actually; in fact; really | HSK 3 |
| 確實 | quèshí | indeed; really | HSK 3 |
| 事實 | shìshí | fact | HSK 3 |
| 事實上 | shìshíshang | in fact; in reality | HSK 3 |
| 實際上 | shíjìshàng | in fact; in reality | HSK 3 |
| 真實 | zhēnshí | true; real | HSK 3 |
| 現實 | xiànshí | reality; actuality; real; actual | HSK 3 |
| 實驗室 | shíyànshì | laboratory | HSK 3 |
| 實驗 | shíyàn | experiment; test | HSK 3 |
| 實力 | shílì | strength | HSK 3 |
Questions about 實
How many strokes are in 實?
實 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 實 mean?
實 (shí) means real, true; honest, sincere. A common word with it is 实在 (shízài), meaning "really; actually".
How do you pronounce 實?
實 is pronounced shí, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 實?
The radical of 實 is 宀, which carries the idea of "roof". Dictionaries list 實 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 實?
實 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 实, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Why does 實 also mean fruit?
The dictionary lists fruit as one of its senses, linked to the idea of something solid and filled out. You see it in words like 果實 (guǒshí), fruit or result.
What is the difference between 其實 and 確實?
其實 (qíshí) means actually and often corrects or adds to what was expected. 確實 (quèshí) means indeed and confirms that something is true.