Meaning of 实际
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- reality
- practice
- practical
- realistic
- real
- actual
How to use 实际
As a noun, 实际 means reality or actual conditions, often in phrases like 实际上 (shíjì shang, in fact) and 符合实际 (fúhé shíjì, in line with reality). As an adjective it means practical or realistic. Example: 这个计划不太实际。(Zhège jìhuà bú tài shíjì.) This plan is not very realistic.
实 (shí) means real or solid, and 际 (jì) means a boundary or the point where things meet, as in 国际 (guójì). Think of 实际 as the place where ideas meet the real world.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 实际 with 其实 (qíshí). 其实 is an adverb that goes before the verb, so 其实我不想去 is correct, while 实际我不想去 sounds wrong. Use 实际上 if you want the adverb form. Also, the second tone in 际 is fourth (jì), not second.
实际 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
实 shí · real · 8 strokes
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际 jì · border · 7 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 实际.
| 实在 | shízài | really; actually |
| 实现 | shíxiàn | to achieve; to implement; to realize; to bring about |
| 国际 | guójì | international |
| 实习 | shíxí | to practice; field work |
| 其实 | qíshí | actually; in fact; really |
| 确实 | quèshí | indeed; really |
| 事实 | shìshí | fact |
| 事实上 | shìshíshang | in fact; in reality |
| 实际上 | shíjìshàng | in fact; in reality |
| 真实 | zhēnshí | true; real |
| 现实 | xiànshí | reality; actuality; real; actual |
| 实验室 | shíyànshì | laboratory |
Questions about 实际
What does 实际 mean?
实际 (shíjì) means "reality; practice" and is used as a noun and adjective.
How do you write 实际?
实际 is made of 2 characters: 实 (8 strokes), 际 (7 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 实际 an HSK word?
Yes. 实际 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 实际 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 实际 is written 實際.
What is the difference between 实际上 and 其实?
Both mean in fact or actually. 其实 is more conversational and often softly corrects what someone expects. 实际上 sounds a bit more formal and stresses the real situation compared with appearances.
Can 实际 describe a person?
Yes. 他很实际 (tā hěn shíjì) means he is a practical, down to earth person who cares about real results. In some contexts it can hint that someone is materialistic, so tone and context matter.