adv.
The original glyph depicts an immortal ascending to heaven, untouched by falsehood. Really, truly, indeed—emphasizing that something is exactly as stated.
真
adj.
real; genuine; true
Common Usage & Traps
- 真好 — how nice / really good (said with feeling)
- 真的 — really / true (the everyday, safe form)
- 真的吗 — Really? / You serious?
- 真漂亮 — so pretty (a genuine compliment, not a report)
- 真会飞 — really can fly (punchy, spoken)
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真很漂亮真漂亮 / 很漂亮English stacks emphasis ('really very'), but 真 and 很 both want the same single seat before the adjective. Only one gets to sit.
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这是真这是真的When 真 means 'real / genuine' and stands alone as a description, it needs 的 to hold it up. Bare 真 can't end a sentence like that.
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真吗真的吗The one-word 'Really?' always carries 的. 真吗 is simply not a phrase anyone says.
What's the difference between 真漂亮 and 很漂亮?
真 is you reacting out loud. 很 is you quietly reporting the facts.
很 is the default word for 'very', and half the time it barely means anything at all. 他很高 sounds like 'he's tall' rather than 'he's extremely tall'. 真 does the opposite job: it shoves you, the speaker, right into the sentence. 真高啊 is a gasp at a tall guy on the subway. 很高 is a line you'd read off a medical form. Quick test: if you'd shrug while saying it, use 很. If you'd raise your eyebrows, use 真.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Neutral description | 他很高。 | 他真高。 (when you're just stating a fact) |
| Real reaction | 他真高啊！ | 他很高。 (flat, sounds like you don't care) |
| Complimenting someone | 你真好啊！ | 你很好。 (sounds like a report card) |
Do you need the 的 in 真的, or can you just say 真?
真的 is the safe everyday form. Bare 真 is the punchy spoken one.
The 的 is not decoration. 真的 is the all-purpose version you can drop anywhere: 真的吗? 这是真的 他真的走了. Bare 真 is shorter, louder, and usually lives in reactions like 真好 or 真会飞. A one-word 'Really?' is always 真的吗, never 真吗. When you're unsure, keep the 的, because nobody will blink at it.
“手机在手中，
飞机真会飞。” (The phone is in your hand, and planes really can fly.)
“手机在手中，
飞机真会飞。” (The phone is in your hand, and planes really can fly.)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone 'Really?' | 真的吗？ | 真吗？ |
| Confirming something is real | 这是真的。 | 这是真。 |
| Answering 'yes, really' | 真的。 | 真。 |
Can you translate 'really very good' as 真很好?
'Really very good' is 真好 or 很好. It is never 真很好.
English loves stacking emphasis: 'really very good', 'so totally worth it'. Chinese gives 真 and 很 one shared seat before the adjective, so only one of them can sit down. 真很好 hits native ears the way 'very really good' hits yours. Pick by tone instead: 真好 is a reaction, 很好 is a report. The same pile-up breaks 真很会飞, where you want either 真会飞 or 很会飞.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Translating 'really very good' | 真好 / 很好 | 真很好 |
| Two emphasis words before a verb | 真会飞 / 很会飞 | 真很会飞 |
Appears in Stories 4 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
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。
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。
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 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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