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March 24, 2026
真zhēn(zhen1)
The character 真 (zhēn) means 'true' or 'real'. It is commonly used to express authenticity or sincerity, often in contexts where something is being affirmed as genuine or truthful. It can also be used for emphasis, similar to saying 'really' or 'truly' in English.
Strokes10Radical目Frequency#51DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, authenticity and sincerity are highly valued, especially in personal relationships and business dealings. The character 真 reflects this cultural emphasis on being genuine and truthful.
Memory Tip
Imagine a detective holding a magnifying glass, investigating a case to find the 'real' truth. The character 真 looks like someone pointing to the truth, with the horizontal line as the 'truth' and the vertical stroke as the 'person' seeking it, pronounced 'zhēn' like 'zen' when you find peace in the truth.
Meanings of 真
zhēn(zhen1)
1really
2truly
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 真
真Simplified
10Strokes
目Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#51Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 真
Podcast: 真
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AI Study Notes for 真
Quick Contrast
真 (zhēn) vs 真的 (zhēn de) — use 真 for adjectives and adverbs, while 真的 is often used to modify verbs or indicate a stronger assertion.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a detective holding a magnifying glass, investigating a case to find the 'real' truth. The character 真 looks like someone pointing to the truth, with the horizontal line as the 'truth' and the vertical stroke as the 'person' seeking it, pronounced 'zhēn' like 'zen' when you find peace in the truth.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 真 with other similar-sounding words like 真的 (zhēn de), which means 'really' or 'truly'. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, and it often collocates with words like '好' (hǎo, good) or '多' (duō, many) to emphasize authenticity. Watch out for pronunciation, as the first tone can easily be mispronounced.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 真 connects with other adjectives and adverbs, enhancing your ability to describe things. Focus on using it in sentences to affirm statements or express sincerity, as this will help you sound more natural in conversations.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, authenticity and sincerity are highly valued, especially in personal relationships and business dealings. The character 真 reflects this cultural emphasis on being genuine and truthful.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 真 with 假 (jiǎ, false). For instance, saying '这件衣服假好看' (zhè jiàn yīfú jiǎ hǎokàn) instead of '这件衣服真好看' (zhè jiàn yīfú zhēn hǎokàn) can lead to misunderstandings. Always use 真 to affirm something as true.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 真
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Grammar Patterns of 真
真 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 7 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.
I shall have words with these stupid friends of mine!
9
“你真的不说吗？”她问道，乞求得到安慰。
“ “ nǐ zhēn de bù shuō？” ma ？” tā， wèn dào ， qǐ qiú dé。
"You really won't tell?" she asked, begging for reassurance.
10
你真自以为是。我们为什么要费那么大的力气？
nǐ zhēn zì yǐ wéi shì。 。 wǒ mén wéi shí mó yào fèi nà mó dà de lì？
You flatter yourself. Why would we go to such ludicrous lengths?
Cultural Notes for 真
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, authenticity and sincerity are highly valued, especially in personal relationships and business dealings. The character 真 reflects this cultural emphasis on being genuine and truthful.
Word Family of 真
Compounds28
镇zhen4to press down
填tian2to fill or stuff
慎shen4careful
缜zhen3fine, detailed; closely woven
傎
寘
搷
滇Dian1Yunnan province
瑱tian4a jade earring
瘨
禛zhen1to receive blessings
稹zhen3to accumulate
窴
蹎
阗tian2a place in Xinjiang province
鬒zhen3glossy black hair
黰
厧
嫃
嵮
槙
磌
縝
蒖
謓
鎮zhen4calm, composed; to control, to suppress
闐
齻
Words Containing This Character20
真zhēnreally
真是indeed
真正zhēnzhènggenuine
认真rènzhēnearnest認真
真实zhēnshítrue真實
真心zhēnxīnsincere
真相zhēnxiàngthe truth about sth
真诚zhēnchéngtrue真誠
真理zhēnlǐtruth
天真tiānzhēnnaive
真人a real person
传真chuánzhēnfax傳真
当真dàngzhēnserious當真
真情zhēnqíngthe truth
真空zhēnkōngvacuum
写真portrait寫真
真皮dermis (layer within the skin containing sense of touch)
真实性authenticity真實性
果真guǒzhēnreally
纯真innocent and unaffected純真
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 镇 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 真
You can use 真 to emphasize the truthfulness of a statement, such as '这件衣服真好看' (zhè jiàn yīfú zhēn hǎokàn) meaning 'This piece of clothing is really beautiful.'
Yes, you can use 真 in negative sentences, such as '他不是真正的朋友' (tā bù shì zhēnzhèng de péngyǒu), meaning 'He is not a true friend.'
真 is an adjective meaning 'true' or 'real', while 真的 is an adverb meaning 'really' or 'truly', often used to emphasize a statement.
