Kilo Lingo

(zhēn shì) - truly is, indeed in Mandarin

zhēnshì

Traditional: 真是

Line drawing of 真是
Coloured illustration of 真是
HSK 2
#183 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

truly is, indeed

Word origin

真是 (zhēn shì) 'truly is, indeed' is 真 (zhēn, 'really') plus 是 (shì, 'to be'). 真 is an old character meaning 'genuine'; 是 combines 日 (sun) over 正 (straight) and serves as the copula.

Origin
compound
Root
真 (zhēn, 'really') + 是 (shì, 日 sun + 正 straight)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 真

Stroke order for 是

Examples

You are truly wonderful.

It is truly unexpected.

What a real bother.

You really are a good friend.

Today was really too tiring.

真是 (zhēn shì) means truly is, indeed. It is used as a adverb in everyday Mandarin speech.

Used in

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This word is part of lesson 4.