Meaning of 实际上
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- in fact
- in reality
- as a matter of fact
- in practice
How to use 实际上
实际上 usually starts a sentence or clause to correct an assumption or reveal the true situation, often after a contrast with what seems true. Example: 他看起来很年轻，实际上已经五十岁了。(Tā kàn qǐlái hěn niánqīng, shíjìshàng yǐjīng wǔshí suì le.) He looks young, but in fact he is already fifty.
Break it into 实际 (shíjì, reality, actual situation) plus 上 (shàng, on). Think of it as "on the level of reality," which is what is really happening.
Common mistake: Learners often use 实际上 just to add emphasis, like English "actually" in "I actually like it." In Chinese it normally signals a contrast with an expectation or appearance, so for simple emphasis 其实 (qíshí) or 真的 (zhēn de) often sounds more natural.
实际上 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
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
际 jì · border · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
上 shàng · up · 3 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
Related words
Words that share a character with 实际上.
| 马上 | mǎshàng | at once; right away |
| 晚上 | wǎnshang | evening; night |
| 身上 | shēnshang | on the body; at hand |
| 早上 | zǎoshang | early morning |
| 上次 | shàng cì | last time |
| 路上 | lùshang | on the road; on the way; en route |
| 上班 | shàngbān | to go to work; to be on duty |
| 上车 | shàng chē | to get on or into (a bus, train, car etc) |
| 地上 | dìshang | on the ground; on the floor |
| 楼上 | lóu shàng | upstairs; (Internet slang) previous poster in a forum thread |
| 车上 | chē shang | |
| 上学 | shàngxué | to go to school; to attend school |
Questions about 实际上
What does 实际上 mean?
实际上 (shíjìshàng) means "in fact; in reality" and is used as a adverb.
How do you write 实际上?
实际上 is made of 3 characters: 实 (8 strokes), 际 (7 strokes), 上 (3 strokes). That is 18 strokes in total.
Is 实际上 an HSK word?
Yes. 实际上 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 实际上 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 实际上 is written 實際上.
What is the difference between 实际上 and 其实?
Both mean "in fact" and often overlap. 其实 (qíshí) is more conversational and can soften a statement, while 实际上 sounds a bit more formal and stresses actual facts or practice versus theory.
Can 实际 be used without 上?
Yes. 实际 (shíjì) works as a noun or adjective meaning reality or practical, as in 实际情况 (shíjì qíngkuàng, the actual situation) or 不实际 (bù shíjì, unrealistic). Adding 上 turns it into the adverb "in fact."