An immortal transforming shape and ascending to heaven.
True, real, genuine; really, truly. A straight figure (直) standing on a solid base (八).
真
Common Usage & Traps
- 真的 — really; truly
- 真的吗 — really? for real?
- 真好 — really good; how nice
- 真大 — really big
- 真漂亮 — really pretty
- 真想去 — really want to go
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真很漂亮真漂亮 / 真的很漂亮 / 很漂亮真 alone does not stack with 很. Use 真漂亮 for excited praise or 真的很漂亮 for 'really is pretty.'
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真吗真的吗真 cannot stand alone as a question. The chunk is 真的, so 真的吗? is the natural form.
Can you say 真很漂亮 to mean 'really very pretty'?
No. 真 alone will not stack with 很.
真 and 很 both add emphasis to an adjective, but they do not team up directly. 真很漂亮 sounds like 'very really pretty' in English. Use 真漂亮 when you just saw something and want to sound excited. Use 很漂亮 for a plain, polite comment. If you want the meaning 'really is pretty,' say 真的很漂亮.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Direct stacking | 真漂亮 / 真的很漂亮 | 真很漂亮 |
| Tone | 真漂亮 sounds excited and personal | 真很漂亮 sounds broken |
| Neutral description | 很漂亮 is plain and polite | 真很漂亮 tries to do both |
If someone tells you news, can you just reply 真的?
Yes. 真的 alone is a natural 'Really?'
In casual talk, 真的 works as a standalone reaction, like English 'Really?' or 'No way.' You can also add 吗 to make it a full question: 真的吗? But do not use 真 alone as a reply, because it sounds cut off. The 的 is what lets it stand alone.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone reply | 真的? | 真? |
| Full question | 真的吗? | 真吗? |
| Meaning | Really? For real? | Sounds incomplete |
Appears in Stories 14 stories
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
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小人物名叫 元真 。
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如有我可以帮你小忙的事，如找你自己找不着的书之类，我一定很愿意做，”从此， 元真 便成了博士胡之适的“我的朋友”了。
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一天，胡之适邀请 元真 到他研究院的办公室去做客。
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元真 把带来的一个小包打开，里面是十块饼干，黄黄的，有着新烤出来的奶油的香味。
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元真 告诉胡之适说，他的鼻子里也长了一个差不多的东西。
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胡之适一听他说，便立即给一位做院长的朋友写了封信，说：这是我的朋友 元真 。
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
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人太多，我很少 真的 说汉语，所以这个“汉语课”很没意思。
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我这四年要忙工作， 说真话 ，没有很多时间学汉语。
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六百个小时HSK五级，你的学习 真好 ！
This short poem plays with words that sound alike, comparing things that are good to watch, read, hear, or taste. Perfect for practicing basic adjectives like 好 and 真.
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好歌 真 好听， 真话 不好听。
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好菜 真 好吃，好吃也好看。
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可乐 真 好喝，好喝还好玩儿。
Chat about where friends study Chinese while exploring 哪儿 and 哪里 across Beijing and Shanghai. Practice asking “where”, talking about “here” and “there”, and using the modest reply 哪里哪里 to accept a compliment.
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老包： 真的 ？
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小米： 真的 。
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大山：小米，你的汉语 真好 。
Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.
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到了学校，儿子看了看，学校里 真的 一个人也没有。
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儿子对我说：“学校今天 真的 很热、很热”。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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昨晚跟一个身家过亿的外贸老板同席吃饭，突然发现一个挺扎心的社交 真相 。
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那一秒的笑是 真的 。
This playful poem will make you smile as you explore how Chinese words like 'computer' and 'phone' can be funnier than they seem. Get ready to enjoy simple HSK 1 vocabulary and a twist of logic!
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手机在手中，飞机 真 会飞。
Before you read: this is a short rhyming poem. You will meet a doctor who asks about seeing and hearing. Try to spot words you already know!
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真的 没问题。
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
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他想，保护环境， 真的 不是一个人的事。
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
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今天我认识了一个新朋友， 真 高兴。
This humorous dialogue follows a man who spends all his savings on his girlfriend's Apple phone and a lucky number, leaving him broke. A fun read for HSK 3 learners.
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B：我 真 不想说这件事。
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
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今天我们就来为方便面说两句话——方便面 真的 是被大家误会了。
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
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白天明觉得，今天天气 真好 。
Enjoy this simple story about a patient and a mysterious apple. It shows how a small act of kindness can make someone feel at home, and you'll learn key words for feelings and daily life.
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马家友吃了手里的苹果，觉得这个苹果 真好吃 ！
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