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March 24, 2026
老实(老實)lǎoshi(lao3shi5)
The term '老实' refers to a person who is honest, sincere, and straightforward, often lacking guile or deceit. It can also imply a certain naivety or simplicity, suggesting that the person is well-behaved and trustworthy in their actions and intentions.
Frequency#1669DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being '老实' is often valued as a virtue, indicating trustworthiness and integrity. However, it can also imply that a person may be taken advantage of due to their straightforward nature, reflecting cultural nuances around honesty and social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine an old man (老) telling the truth (实) without any tricks. Picture him sitting on a park bench, sharing his stories sincerely, symbolizing both age and honesty. The sound 'lao' can remind you of 'old,' and 'shi' sounds like 'sincere,' reinforcing the meaning.
Meanings of 老实
lǎoshi(lao3shi5)
1honest
2sincere
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 老实
老实Simplified
老實Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#1669Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 老实
Podcast: 老实
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AI Study Notes for 老实
Quick Contrast
诚实 (chéngshí) vs 老实 (lǎoshi): use 诚实 for a focus on honesty as a moral quality, while 老实 emphasizes straightforwardness and simplicity, often with a connotation of naivety.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine an old man (老) telling the truth (实) without any tricks. Picture him sitting on a park bench, sharing his stories sincerely, symbolizing both age and honesty. The sound 'lao' can remind you of 'old,' and 'shi' sounds like 'sincere,' reinforcing the meaning.
Usage Notes
'老实' is often used in informal contexts to describe someone's character, but can also be used in formal discussions about ethics. Be careful not to confuse it with '诚实' (chéng shí), which strictly means 'honest' without the connotation of simplicity or naivety. The tone is crucial; ensure to pronounce the third tone for '老' and the fifth tone for '实' correctly.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, '老实' connects with other words that describe character traits, such as '诚实' (honest) and '善良' (kind). Students should focus on using it in context to describe people or behaviors, and practice forming sentences that express both positive and negative traits.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being '老实' is often valued as a virtue, indicating trustworthiness and integrity. However, it can also imply that a person may be taken advantage of due to their straightforward nature, reflecting cultural nuances around honesty and social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use '老实' interchangeably with '诚实.' For example, saying '她很老实' (She is very honest) is correct, but confusing it with '她很诚实' may lead to misunderstanding its nuance of simplicity or naivety.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 老实
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Grammar Patterns of 老实
老实 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
____讲，托马斯，你贷款的问题开始让我担心了。
Frankly, Thomas, this question of your loan is beginning to worry me.
Example Sentences for 老实 (10)
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1
老实讲，托马斯，你贷款的问题开始让我担心了。
lǎo shí jiǎng， ， tuō mǎ， sī ， nǐ dài kuǎn de wèn tí kāi shǐ ràng wǒ dān。
Frankly, Thomas, this question of your loan is beginning to worry me.
2
老实跟你讲，哈维，我可能犯了个错。
lǎo shí gēn nǐ jiǎng， ， hā， wéi ， wǒ kě néng fàn le。
To be frank with you, Harvey, I may have made a mistake.
3
老实说，他有时也会让人厌烦。
lǎo shí shuō， ， tā yǒu shí yě huì ràng rén yàn。
To be frank, he could also be a bit of a bore.
4
老实说我以为再也不用见到你了。
lǎo shí shuō wǒ yǐ wéi zài yě bù yòng jiàn dào nǐ le。
I honestly thought I'd seen the last of you.
5
商店“概不退货”的规定使得一些不老实的收银员和顾客更难以串通。
shāng diàn“ “ gài bù tuì” huò ” de guī dìng shǐ dé yī xiē bù lǎo shí de shōu yín yuán hé gù kè gēng nán yǐ。
The store's "no refunds" policy makes it harder for dishonest cashiers and customers to collude.
6
“ 嘿, 老实说, 那是个挺不错的好玩意.
“ “, hēi , lǎo, shí shuō , nà shì gè tǐng bù cuò de.
" My! Dat's a mighty gay marvel, I tell you!
7
他所有的钱都被专骗老实人的骗子骗去了.
tā suǒ yǒu de qián dū bèi zhuān piàn lǎo shí rén de piàn zǐ piàn qù le.
He was skinned of all his money by confidence tricksters.
8
我始终老老实实地陪着他,一直等他把这出滑稽戏演完.
wǒ shǐ zhōng lǎo lǎo shí shí dì péi zháo tā, , yī zhí děng tā bǎ zhè chū huá jī xì yǎn.
I stayed faithfully by him until his comedy was finished.
9
我只是个普通生意人, 想老老实实赚点钱谋生.
wǒ zhī shì gè pǔ tōng shēng yì rén, , xiǎng lǎo lǎo shí shí zhuàn diǎn qián móu.
I'm just an ordinary businessman, trying to earn an honest penny.
Ah Ch'ou hurriedly jumped down from the table and also said earnestly, " I want a popsicle. "
Cultural Notes for 老实
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being '老实' is often valued as a virtue, indicating trustworthiness and integrity. However, it can also imply that a person may be taken advantage of due to their straightforward nature, reflecting cultural nuances around honesty and social interactions.
Frequently Asked Questions about 老实
Yes, while it generally means honest, it can imply naivety or gullibility, suggesting that someone may be too trusting.
No, '老实' can be used for anyone regardless of gender, though context may influence its perception.
'他是个老实的人' means 'He is an honest person.' You can also say '她说话很老实,' meaning 'She speaks very honestly.'
