(zhēn) - really, truly, genuine in Mandarin
zhēnTraditional: 真
Translation
really, truly, genuine
Word origin
真 (zhēn) 'real, true' is a character whose early form is debated; it is commonly analysed as depicting a person or vessel and was associated with the idea of a genuine substance. It now means 'true, genuine, really'.
- Origin
- ideograph
- Root
- 真 (zhēn), graph of disputed early composition
Other proposed origins
- Shuowen links 真 to a Daoist immortal ascending; modern palaeography reads the seal form as a ladle 匕 over 鼎 (a tripod vessel). The components are debated. (匕 + 鼎 (one reading) / 真)
Stroke order
真
Examples
。
You are truly kind.
？
Really?
。
This is real.
。
You are really clever.
。
It is really cold outside.
真 (zhēn) means really, truly, genuine. It is used as a adverb in everyday Mandarin speech.
Where this fits
Appears in 7 words
Multi-character compounds in the corpus that contain 真.
Used in
Stories
(8)Grammar articles
(7)Mandarin Adjectives as Stative Verbs: Why 'I Am Cold' Is 我冷, Not 我是冷
The Mandarin 被 (bèi) Passive: Saying Something Was Done To the Subject
Mandarin Complements: 得 for Manner, Directional Endings, and How to Attach a Result to a Verb
Formal Mandarin Connectives: 然而, 因此, 于是 and 尽管 (The Written Register)
Mandarin Four-Character Idioms (四字格): The Shape, Not the List
Mandarin Rhetorical Questions: 难道, 不是...吗, 何必 and 岂不
The Three de in Mandarin: 的, 得, and 地 and How to Tell Them Apart
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真: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "真" (really, truly, genuine): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 3.