Kilo Lingo

(zhēn xiàng) - the truth, the real situation in Mandarin

zhēnxiàng

Traditional: 真相

Line drawing of 真相
Coloured illustration of 真相
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Translation

the truth, the real situation

Word origin

真相 (zhēnxiàng) 'the truth' joins 真 (zhēn, 'true') and 相 (xiàng, 'appearance, mutual'). 相 is an ideographic compound of 木 (mù, 'tree') and 目 (mù, 'eye'), an eye looking at a tree, hence 'to observe' and 'appearance'.

Origin
compound
Root
真 (zhēn, 'true') + 相 (xiàng, 木 tree + 目 eye, 'appearance')

Stroke order

Stroke order for 真

Stroke order for 相

Examples

We need to find out the truth.

The truth is often surprising.

He finally learned the truth.

We finally learnt the truth.

The reporter is working hard to find the truth.

真相 (zhēn xiàng) means the truth or the real situation.

Used in

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This word is part of lesson 20.