Kilo Lingo

(shì shí) - fact, reality in Mandarin

shìshí

Traditional: 事實

Line drawing of 事实
Coloured illustration of 事实
HSK 4
#822 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

fact, reality

Word origin

A compound of 事 (shì) 'matter' and 實 (shí) 'solid, real, fruit'. 實 in its traditional form shows 宀 (roof) over 貫 (strung goods), suggesting a house filled with substance, hence 'real'. Together they mean a fact.

Origin
compound
Root
事 (shì, matter) + 實 (shí, real: 宀 roof + 貫 strung goods)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 事

Stroke order for 实

Examples

This is a fact.

The facts prove he was right.

We must face the facts.

Please tell me the truth of the matter.

Facts and opinions are not the same.

事实 (shì shí) means fact, reality. It is used as a noun in everyday Mandarin speech.

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This word is part of lesson 17.